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Full-Text Articles in Engineering
An Experimental And Analytical Study Of Ice Part Fabrication With Rapid Freeze Prototyping, Wei Zhang, Ming-Chuan Leu, Guanghua Sui, Zhiming Ji
An Experimental And Analytical Study Of Ice Part Fabrication With Rapid Freeze Prototyping, Wei Zhang, Ming-Chuan Leu, Guanghua Sui, Zhiming Ji
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works
Rapid Freeze Prototyping (RFP) is a new solid freeform fabrication process that builds an ice part by rapidly freezing water layer by layer. In this paper, we will present our recent progress in the development of this novel process. An experimental system has been built for conducting the research. It consists of an XY-table and Z-stroke driven by micro-stepping motors and a water dispensing and deposition subsystem which incorporates a solenoid valve and a syringe pump placed inside a freezer. Simple heat transfer analysis is made to help select proper values of process parameters and predict part building failures. Example …
Assessment Of Environmental Performance Of Rapid Prototyping And Rapid Tooling Processes, Yanchun Luo, Ming-Chuan Leu, Zhiming Ji
Assessment Of Environmental Performance Of Rapid Prototyping And Rapid Tooling Processes, Yanchun Luo, Ming-Chuan Leu, Zhiming Ji
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works
A method for assessing the environmental performance of solid freeform fabrication (SFF) based rapid prototyping and rapid tooling processes is presented in this paper. In this method of assessment, each process is divided into a number of life stages. The environmental effect of each process stage is analyzed and evaluated based on an environmental index utilizing the Eco-indicators that were compiled by PreConsultants of the Netherlands. The effects of various life stages are then combined to obtain the environmental performance of a process. In the assessment of SFF processes, we consider the material use in the fabrication of a part, …
Rapid Tooling By Integrating Electroforming And Solid Freeform Fabrication Techniques, Bo Yang, Ming-Chuan Leu
Rapid Tooling By Integrating Electroforming And Solid Freeform Fabrication Techniques, Bo Yang, Ming-Chuan Leu
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works
This paper describes a rapid tooling process that integrates solid freeform fabrication (SFF) with electroforming to produce metal tools including molds, dies, and electrical discharge machining (EDM) electrodes. Based on experimental data analysis, the geometry and material of the SFF part, the properties of the electroformed metal, and the process parameters are significant factors that cause inaccuracy in the manufactured tools. Thermomechanical modeling and numerical simulation is used to determine the geometry of the SFF part and the electroform thickness for minimizing the manufacturing time and cost while satisfying the tooling accuracy requirement.