Friday, April 15, 2005
A brief experimental result on the idea of using release agent to separate supports from built objects in FDM. We had our Stratasys Dimension FDM machine make a 10mm ABS cube, paused the build about one third the way through, opened the machine, and painted a thin film of vegetable oil (Tesco's own-brand Corn Oil, to be precise) on the top surface. We then resumed the build, which proceeded as normal.
The first picture shows the finished cube. (The mistake loop is irrelevant - it is about four layers below the split.) The cube split cleanly (second picture) where the oil had been deposited, needing a small but definite force to do so. This means that one could use such a system for deciding splits between support and object in FDM. The oil depositor would not need to be much more complicated than a felt-tip pen...
The first picture shows the finished cube. (The mistake loop is irrelevant - it is about four layers below the split.) The cube split cleanly (second picture) where the oil had been deposited, needing a small but definite force to do so. This means that one could use such a system for deciding splits between support and object in FDM. The oil depositor would not need to be much more complicated than a felt-tip pen...
Comments:
<< Home
"...opened the machine, and painted a thin film of vegetable oil (Tesco's own-brand Corn Oil, to be precise) on the top surface..."
How about using something less fluid that could be fed through a syringe but would stay in place while the part is being constructed? You could, for example, use partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (i.e. margarine). This would allow the relase agent to be deposited using a syringe head similar to the plastic and conductor heads.
How about using something less fluid that could be fed through a syringe but would stay in place while the part is being constructed? You could, for example, use partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (i.e. margarine). This would allow the relase agent to be deposited using a syringe head similar to the plastic and conductor heads.
Love the idea of the machine needing a supply of margarine... Alternatively some waxes might do well; they are already used in several different commercial RP machines.
Post a Comment
<< Home
