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termination of the process parameters, and reduce the number of costly physical prototype iterations. 3D CAD model and VP allow most problems with unfitting to bee obvious early in the product development process. Assemblies can be verified for interference as VP can be exercised through a range of tasks. Structure and thermal analysis can be performed on the same model employing CAE applications as well as simulating downstream manufacturing processes. It is clear that VP increases process and product reliability. Although VP is intended to ensure that unsuitable designs are rejected or modified, in many cases, a visual and physical evaluation of the real ponent is needed. This often requires physical prototype to be produced. Hence, once the VP is finished, the model may often be sent directly to physical fabrication. The CAD model can be directly converted to the physical prototype using a RP technique or highspeed machining (HSM) process. The 3D CAD model is to be exported not only in the STL format which is considered the de facto standard for interfacing CAD and RP systems, but also in the NC coding which can be used by HSM. HSM has a potential for rapid producing plaster or wooden pattern for RT. RP is a new forming process which fabricates physical parts layer by layer under puter control directly from 3D CAD models in a very short time. In contrast to traditional machining methods, the majority of rapid prototyping systems tend to fabricate parts based on additive manufacturing process, rather than subtraction or removal of material. Therefore, this type of fabrication is unconstrained by the limitations attributed to conventional machining approaches. The application of RP technique as a useful tool can provide benefits throughout the process of developing new products. Specifically, there are serious benefits that RP can bring in the areas of market research, sales support, promotional material, and the everimportant product launch. Physical RP can also bee a powerful munications tool to ensure that everyone involved in the development process fully understands and appreciates the product being developed. Hence, it can help to reduce substantially the inevitable risks in the route from product concept to mercial success, and help shorten timetomarket, improve quality and reduce cost. Over the last 20 years, RP machines have been widely used in industry. The RP methods mercially available include Stereolithgraphy (SLA), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Fused Deposition Manufacturing (FDM), Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM), Ballistic Particle Manufacturing (BMP), and ThreeDimensional Printing (3D printing), etc.Once the design has been accepted, the realization of the production line represents a major task with a long lead time before any product can be put to the market. In particular, the preparation of plex tooling is usually in the critical path of a project and has therefore a direct and strong influence on timetomarket. In order to reduce the product development time and cost, the new technique of RT has been developed. RT is a technique that can transform the RP patterns into functional parts, especially metal parts. It offers a fast and low cost method to produce moulds and functional parts. Furthermore, the integration of both RP and RT in development strategy promotes the implementation of concurrent engineering in panies. Numerous processes have been developed for producing dies from RP system. The RT methods can generally be divided into direct and indirect tooling categories, and also soft (firm) and hard tooling subgroups. Indirect RT requires some kinds of master patterns, which can be made by conventional methods (. HSM), or more monly by an RP process such as SLA or SLS. Direct RT, as the name suggests, involves the manufacturing of a tool cavity directly on a RP system, hence eliminating the intermediate step of generating a pa