Subject:
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Re: This could be useful in the future....
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.build.mecha
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Date:
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Thu, 24 Oct 2002 13:46:39 GMT
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Viewed:
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691 times
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Hi,
I think you are talking about Stereolithography (SLA). A company called 3D
Systems makes this particular system. Unfortunately, the polymer they use
costs several hundred dollars per gallon and I'm pretty sure the material is
not really safe. The machine is fairly slow and would never be used for high
volume production like LEGO elements. They are mostly used to make prototypes.
The parts have pretty good surface quality, but nothing like a LEGO brick.
When the CAD model is turned into a set of layers something called the
staircase effect occurs because the SLA machine cannot form layers with
curved sides, only straight up and down. So if you look closely at a sloping
or curved surface on the fabricated part, they look like a staircase. It's
like a LEGO sculpture, only on a much smaller scale!
It is a very cool process, but it is still pretty slow and very expensive.
There are many other systems for rapid prototyping, but I think SLA is one
of the better and more popular methods.
James
In lugnet.build.mecha, Eric Sophie writes:
> Pretty cool huh, I beleive the technique is called Laser Lithography. I once
> contacted a company in Florida that has one of these connected to a 3D Scanner.
> Simular to when an Actor's head or face is scanned and then manipulated in a
> computer. Then the rapid prototyper can crank out the physical form one
> layer at a time until you have the completed piece.
>
> I was trying to find out if one of my Robots could be scanned and then made
> into one solid piece. I then could sell the form and folks could paint them
> as they fancied.
>
> The person I spoke with was using the system to make dicast scale Nascar
> Race Cars.
>
> Cool stuff, just think of all the applications!
>
> Legomaster
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: This could be useful in the future....
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| Pretty cool huh, I beleive the technique is called Laser Lithography. I once contacted a company in Florida that has one of these connected to a 3D Scanner. Simular to when an Actor's head or face is scanned and then manipulated in a computer. Then (...) (22 years ago, 24-Oct-02, to lugnet.build.mecha)
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