Easy of the use technology Proto 3D objects.

The idea of Proto 3D technology is based on the classical principle of rapid prototyping, layered manufacturing of the subject. Unlike other technologies, our technology of used equipment for manufacturing the prototype used in conventional cutting (plotters "boat"). Advertising agencies usually use them in order to cut the advertising boards and signs on self-adhesive vinyl film. Prices for cutting plotters start at $ 400 on the models with a cutting area of 20 cm. Chinese models of cutting plotters are about 1000-1500 $ c 60 cm cutting area, this is more than enough. Cutting plotter is the only equipment that we need for the technology of rapid prototyping.

Recall prices on professional equipment, which starts from 20 thousand dollars and reaches a million - it is a huge difference. The process begins with the creation of 3d models in programs for 3d modeling ... 3DMax, Maya, Rino, Zbrush, SolidWorks, Autocad and others.

What we did not come up with a model on a computer, you can get it in a few hours in the real object. What the scope it opens for creativity of sculptors, 3D designers, advertisers, and many business people who can discern in this technology a huge business potential. Such technology is a real boon for companies engaged in the art of casting metals or plastics, sculpture studio, advertising agencies, art students, artists. The technology will expand opportunities in areas such as, molding liquid marble, gypsum, plastics in flexible molded shapes, production of interior and garden sculptures, reliefs, columns, fireplaces, souvenir and premium products. The finished model is transferred to (format stl) which is designed for stereo lithography.

All of these programs allow you to convert 3d model in this format. Sometimes, if necessary, the 3D model is corrected in specialized programs, working with (stl files). Then 3d model is ready for materialization in the real object that can be touched. Model in a special program is cut into thin layers, which are automatically numbered and displayed on the cutting plotter in the available materials.

Then all the layers, using special technology, are glued together, and we have materialized 3D model with a fairly high accuracy (error within 0, 5-1 mm.)

Cost of such a model will be cheaper in many times than the cost of manufacturing such a model in any other way. The model with the dimensions 10h10kb.sm will be no more than $ 10-15, and you can do anything you want with the given prototype. You can make, for example, a flexible form for the casting and thus multiply your souvenir, or use it as a visual aid in your presentation, depends only on you!

Over the recent decades rapid prototyping services managed with solving lots of tech problems occurring when trying to present a product, design or model. Have you come across such a problem too? Then you are invited to visit this rapid prototyping methodology site.

And remember that we live in the world of digital technologies. Bear in mind that modern online technologies offer you a unique chance to try and to find anything you might require. Make use of them to search for cheap rapid prototyping. Should you want to be aware of new publications on the subject subscribe to the RSS feed on this blog.

What is the prototype of the digital models.

Imagine that every object around us can be cut into many smaller objects, and then in the same sequence the object can be reassembled.

Why is it necessary?

If a company engaged in cast metal, plastic, liquid marble, gypsum, etc., needed the items, or forms of smaller or larger than the already existing object, how to solve this problem. For this solution we need a computer and installed programs for modeling 3D models. For modeling it is used 3D programs such 3DMax, Maya, Rino, Zbrush and other CAD programs that allow you to create 3D computer models.

At the first in 3D program it is created a model of the object that they want to get in finished form; created 3D model is transferred to (stl, format) which is used in devices for rapid prototyping. In a special program 3D model is cut into thin layers. Then they are grown by layers in the installation for rapid prototyping. We get an exact copy of created 3D computer model in any scale. But this equipment costs from $ 20.000 to one million dollars.

The technology of rapid prototyping provides a great opportunity to creative people of certain professions, such as 3D designers, sculpture workshops, art students, as well as firms engaged in artistic casting from metal or plastic molding liquid marble, plaster, plastic injection molding in a flexible form, as well as advertisers, creating interior and garden sculptures, reliefs, columns, fireplaces, souvenir and premium products, and many business people. It all depends on your imagination. You can get in a few hours that was created on your computer, It seems to be fine, but the price of the equipment is too large to $ 20.000.

Not every solid company can buy such equipment; I am not talking about small advertising firms and enterprises. The prime cost of manufactured prototype ranges from 1 to 5 $ per 1 cu. see

In order to orient better, imagine any object of the size 10-10kb.sm., this prototype will be released in price from 500 to 5000 dollars; it all depends on the equipment used for manufacture of the prototype. It is not surprisingly, that a few people use the services of rapid prototyping. If all it would be available and cost a penny, it would be great opportunities for all people.

Over the recent decades rapid prototyping services managed with solving lots of tech problems occurring when trying to show a product, design or model. Have you ever experienced such a problem too? Then you are welcomed to go to a rapid prototyping methodology site.

And don't forget that we live in the world of high technologies. Bear in mind that modern web technologies give you a unique opportunity to try and to find anything you might want. Make use of them to look for cheap rapid prototyping. Should you want to keep abreast of the latest publications on the subject subscribe to the RSS on this blog.

The basis of this technology was developed in 1988 by Scott Crump, and company Stratasys became a manufacturer of equipment for FDM.

The main advantage of such systems is controlled two-axis heating head. The idea is very simple - a liquid thermoplastic material is extruded from the head of the printer, and then fit a thin layer. The material is fed from the coil in the form of wire of diameter 1, 25 mm. At the head the wire is heated and melts at a temperature higher than the point of curing at 10C. The liquid substance hardens very quickly. Due to two-coordinate motion of the head material is placed by a thin uniform layer. The width of the diffusion layer varies from 0, 22 to 2, 5 mm, depending on the rate of deposition of material, nozzle size and accuracy of the positioning of the head. After applying one layer the platform is lowered by an amount of 0.03 to 0.7 mm. It is important to control the process of using the computer as it happens when milling. FDM technology allows to produce ready-to-use items rather large size (up to 600x600x500 mm) with a sufficiently high accuracy (minimum thickness - 0, 12 mm) ). The agency NASA is considering FDM technology as a candidate for "space factory because you cannot take unlimited number of spare parts for all equipment in the space expedition. But the task is quite dared to load a few hundred kilograms of the original thermoplastic material and a compact device that will make any detail from this substance.

Multiphase jet solidification. Typically, 3D-printers do not provide high accuracy and durability of finished prototype, but the mechanical properties of such models are sufficient for visualization of the developed product. The cost of plants varies from 35 thousand to 50 thousand USD, while the cost of traditional RP-system starts with 65 thousand dollars and reaches 800 thousand dollars. The prototypes made on the 3D-printers are estimated at between $ 15 and at $ 35.

Stuttgart and Bremen institutions have developed the technology of multiphase jet solidification. In this technology mix of the powder and fibers are deposited on the surface using a controlled nozzle. The mixture is heated in a compartment of the printer to a temperature of 70 100 o C depending on properties of the working material. As the material it is used powders applied for injection molding. At this temperature the mixture becomes uniform in thickness and is able to pass through the nozzle. It is important to ensure a low surface tension of the material for shaping without shrinking. Subsequently, the prototypes are being finalized with the help of technology, reminiscent of a metal injection molding. There is a sticking substance and obtaining a new molecular mesh for added strength.

Have you ever faced the problem when you want to show your product but there is no model? Then definitely you need rapid prototyping. In addition this technology may be very useful for marketing while the goods has not been produced yet. Fascinating? Visit this cheap rapid prototyping site.

This rapid prototyping methodology is a powerful instrument nowadays. Make use of it to explore products, their weak and strong points. Also keep in mind that modern online technologies offer you a unique opportunity to try and to find anything you might need. If you want to keep abreast of new publications on the topic.

Process of creating a new product can be divided into two major components: the design and manufacture of the prototype.

In the design phase the modern CAD-systems provide a calculation of all the characteristics of future products and receive a virtual representation of the model. Using the latest technology allows the designer to simplify the work and achieve significant economic effect.

However, it is not the same good with the second stage. The main task here is to reduce the time of manufacturing of the prototype of product. Here there are a lot of difficulties. The fact is that conventional technology cannot change the situation. Of course they allow reducing to some extent the time necessary to develop a prototype of the product, but the first attempt to achieve the specified performance is physically impossible: to achieve the necessary parameters, it is usually required to make multiple refinements in design, and then produce repeatedly the refined prototype. At the same time it is practically impossible to avoid the appearance of large number of errors.

Every year the need of using fundamentally new technologies has become increasingly apparent. The area providing obtaining of 3D-prototypes from computer CAD-models was developed most highly. We will consider the most effective and inexpensive of these technologies offered by company Contex.

Contex 3D-printers use a Technology 3DP, built on the principle of layer-based printing based on widespread 2D-jet printing, patented in 1993 by the MIT. The material is a powdered mixture of different types, which allows applying this technology in various fields.

For the growth of the model as a source it is used data obtained in the process of modeling in any CAD-system (engineering, architecture, GIS, etc.) or 3D-scanner, as well as diagnostic medical data CT \ MRI. Supported input formats are STL, VRML, 3DS, PLY.

Software of 3D-printer can optimally prepare obtained model in the CAD-system to printing, place it, scale it to the desired size, if necessary, paint, apply a texture and apply 3D-marking.

Work is carried out in the following way. First of all, the printer software cuts the three-dimensional model of the object on the cross-sections or layers, whose thickness can range from 0.0875 to 0, 2 mm. Then it is obtained sequential printing of cross-sections from the base of the object to its peak. The printer uses two pistons.

When the serving system is filled with powder, the feed piston is in the lower position and plunger in a model (build piston) - at the top.

The printer has several modes of operation that ensures rapid creation of object models. Adhesive solution of higher concentration is applied around the edges of the object, forming a solid "shell" around its outer region, but inside of the object creates the structure of the bearing elements. Other areas of the inner region are printed with a lower concentration of adhesive. Such a print mode provides the necessary stability design of the model and eliminates the possibility of excessive saturated with glue, which can lead to distortion of the shape of the object.

Do you face the problem when you want to present your design but there is no model? Then definitely you require rapid prototyping. Moreover this technology may be very useful for marketing while the goods has not been ready yet. Fascinating? Check out this cheap rapid prototyping site.

This rapid prototyping methodology is a powerful instrument today. Take advantage of it to study products, their weak and strong points. Also bear in mind that modern Internet technologies give you a unique chance to try and to find anything you might require. If you want to be aware of the latest publications on the topic.

Three-dimensional modeling has become an integral part of the creation of complex architectural and technological facilities. After design of 3D model in electronic form, the next step - is its mandatory realization in the hardcopy that previously required a long time and work of several specialists. To date we have a practical opportunity to accelerate this process - with the help of rapid prototyping technologies (Rapid Prototyping).

Instead of more precise term Rapid Prototyping (RP), people often prefer to use the term "three-dimensional printing» (3D-printing, 3DP). What is a 3D Printer? Traditionally, the word "printer" means the device that outputs some information on the paper. Paper - is always a plane and information displayed on it - a two-dimensional one. Therefore, traditional printers can be called "2D printers".

Three-dimensional or 3D printer - is a device of output of three-dimensional data (typically, the bulk geometry). In other words the result of its work is some physical object. There are several technologies of volumetric (three-dimensional, 3D) printing, but the basis of any of them is in the principle of layer creation (many people like the word - growth) of solid geometry.

The main advantage of three-dimensional printing over traditional methods of creating models is speed. For comparison: the production of the model by hand or using machine tools can take several weeks or even months, resulting to higher costs for product development and a significant increase in terms of new products.

The systems of rapid prototyping have no virtually these deficiencies, because with their help you can get ready-made model within a few days, hours or minutes - depending on its complexity.

Why the technology of prototyping is needed and what its scope? The first and the most fundamental in the industry - mainly for rapid prototyping – are to see how the model will look like in the material. In addition, you can conduct various tests on the finished model before they will be ready as the final product. Moreover, the prototypes allow making some types of tests that are not recommended on the finished model. For example, Porsche used a transparent plastic model of the transmission 911 GTI to study the current oil in the process of its development. But most importantly, such a model can be done very quickly - and in our days of high velocities it is very important.

However, the prototypes - it's not all. The next step - is quick production. Already some prototyping technologies allow manufacturing ready-made objects from different materials. This is an ideal solution for small series production, since the standard technical process provides an opportunity to do anything (within reason, of course) in a relatively short period of time. Also, some of the three-dimensional printing technologies allow producing quickly molds.

Over the recent decades rapid prototyping services managed with solving lots of tech problems occurring when trying to present a product, design or model. Have you ever faced such a problem too? Then you are welcomed to visit a rapid prototyping methodology site.

And don't forget that we are living in the world of digital technologies. Keep in mind that current Internet technologies give you a unique opportunity to try and to find anything you might want. Use them to look for cheap rapid prototyping. If you want to be aware of the latest publications on the subject sign up for the RSS on this blog.

The main advantages.

This is the fastest way to create prototypes. The hand draws on the paper much faster than on the screen.

It is painted generalized abstract essence of the interface, but it is also a good way to fix quickly the idea coming to mind.

The prototypes on paper can and should be tested (You can show it to the user and the programmer, and learn the views of those and others), as a result - the cheapest usability testing.

No need to know in detail the programming language (Delphi / Basic / html / etc.).

Anyone who knows how to handle a pencil and paper can easily create a prototype.

It is easy to change the prototype or draw a new one.

Major weaknesses.

Prototypes of the paper are not ideal for all situations.

Working with a prototype on paper may not correspond exactly to the way in which the user will work with real system.

Prospects for the development of 3D printing.

This technology is already saving a lot of time and efforts of designers and engineers. Perhaps in the near future prototyping becomes available at the household level, or as an inexpensive service that everyone could benefit. There will be enough to draw a model to determine the material and send the order via the internet. It's called Distance Manufacturing on Demand. In future this technology will become mass - and then everyone at the table will have his personal mechanic small factory, replacing an ordinary production in the little things, just as printers replaced typographies and typists.

Developments in the field of prototyping are produced constantly, so periodically we can expect something new and unexpected. For example, a group of scientists from the University of California at Berkeley is developing a three-dimensional printing technology, which would simultaneously create the shape and content. Under the content it means - electronic filling. For example, the printer prints a body of mobile phone made of plastic and at the same time types all the electronics inside. In principle, there are already ways of printing plastic semiconductor devices and connecting cables. It remains only to combine them with existing technologies of 3D-printer and it will be a revolutionary breakthrough in modern manufacturing.

Another example is the engineering of the University of Missouri, allowing with the help of ink jet printer to print peculiar blanks of biological bodies. As the ink it is used clusters of cells of a given type. Instead of "paper" there is a special bio-gel, which records the location of cell clusters in space. Printing is performed in several layers; as a result it is obtained volumetric structure of cells, which in principle can simulate any body (after the cells grew up, the gel dissolves, so it is possible to obtain hollow structures). Of course, printing of the full body for transplantation seems too difficult yet, but the work is going.

Over the recent decades rapid prototyping services managed with solving lots of tech problems happening when trying to show a product, design or model. Have you come across such a problem too? Then you are welcomed to visit this rapid prototyping methodology site.

And remember that we are living in the world of high technologies. Bear in mind that current Internet technologies give you a unique opportunity to try and to find anything you might want. Use them to search for cheap rapid prototyping. If you want to keep track of the latest publications on the topic sign up for the RSS on this blog.

Unfortunately, laser 3D-printers of any type are very expensive: so, the price SLS-device of company EOS, which is even difficult to be called printers because of their size, could easily reach a million dollars. But prices of another variety of 3D-printers - inkjet - are becoming more democratic.

Inkjet printers.

The most obvious way of 3D-inkjet printing is squeezing the liquid polymer on the surface of the work piece. The technology FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) works in such a way, which idea belongs to Scott Crump, founder of the company Stratasys. The first printer of the FDM technology was released in 1991. Now Stratasys produces several varieties of FDM-printers, of which the most famous is the series Dimension (under the name of the same name business units). Machines Dimension - are one of the cheapest among the 3D-printers, the price of entry-level models falls below $ 20,000. However, the more "advanced" FDM-devices (such as FDM Titan) can cost in ten times more.

FDM-printers use the thread of thermoplastic plastic (in the cheapest Dimension it is used less robust and resistant polystyrene FAA, in more expensive - polycarbonate, PC), which is melted and through the die is fitted by the print head on the sample surface. Since the thin overhanging elements can be deformed during the printing process, the second die is provided in the head. These elements are washed by water solution in an ultrasound bath from the finished product. As a result, we have smooth and strong products, but the accuracy is bad: the best FDM-models have the thickness of the layer 0,127 mm, ordinary - 0.178 mm or more. In addition, the process is quite slow.

In principle, the FDM-printers allow to receive multi-color samples (it is available for up to seven colors of plastic, or any other color on special order), but it is necessary to change the cartridge with a thread during the work. A noticeable advantage of printers from Stratasys - is the ability to work on the principle of plug & play, all operations are extremely automated. They say, NASA is considering FDM technology as a candidate for the "space factory.

Another method of inkjet printing called Polyjet is developed by the Israeli firm Objet Geometries, whose device with a beautiful name Eden is well known all over the world. Polyjet is a relative of laser technology in SLA, but instead of baths with liquid photopolymer it is used jet head, squeezed it on the surface of the detail. Then, as in the technology SGC, the polymer is cured under UV lamp. Price of"Eden" is quite high - $ 60-100 thousand for the initial "office" models, that, however, is in several times lower than that of SLA-analogues. Speed of the work - is about 20 mm / h, thickness - from 0.16 mm.

Over the recent decades rapid prototyping services managed with solving lots of tech problems occurring when trying to show a product, design or model. Have you ever faced such a problem too? Then you are invited to go to this rapid prototyping methodology site.

And don't forget that we live in the world of high technologies. Bear in mind that modern web technologies give you a unique chance to try and to find anything you might require. Use them to look for cheap rapid prototyping. If you want to keep track of the latest publications on the subject subscribe to the RSS on this blog.

The first technology used practically for automated manufacturing of physical plastic models on the computer "drawings" was stereo lithography (SLA), invented by American engineer Charles Hull in 1986. Hull started the company 3D Systems, which even today is one of the main producers of 3D-printers.

The principle of SLA is in the use of photopolymer in a liquid state, which surface is cured by UV laser beam in accordance with the picture of the current layer (such polymers have long been used by dentists for filling teeth). Figure is obtained by layer "thread" of the initial computer 3D-models using special software. After the formation of the active layer the table with the model is down on the thickness of the layer, and the surface using a special equalizer is filled again with liquid polymer, which forms the next layer. Ready sample is washed in order to remove excess polymer, and for some time is kept under UV lamp for the final set.

You can print quite large products (up to 75 centimeters from the maximum size) on the SLA-printers. Such printer with not even a very large working volume (e.g., 250h250h250 mm) is an impressive device with the size of a closet and weighing half a ton. Recent SLA-printers have the highest accuracy among its fellows (machines of 3D Systems can withstand the thickness of the layer in one or two thousandths of an inch - 0,025-0, 05 mm), they obtained smooth and durable models with an excellent study of fine details. Disadvantages - are the extreme slowness (the growth rate of the sample - is a few millimeters per hour at an altitude of blanks), a limited range of source materials and high cost. The price of such printers are usually not indicated (because they are sold by the piece), but after surfing the web, you can see that the model Viper SLA (not the cheapest, it is true) starts from 150,000 Euros.

Version of SLA-technology called SGC (Solid Ground Curing) is much faster, but with slightly lower resolution. In the original version developed by Israeli firm Cubital in 1987, the process resembled copying: on the special glass with toner it is formed a mask of the current layer, through which the photopolymer is lighted not by laser, but UV lamp once the entire surface. In modern versions instead of masks it is used DLP-matrix, as in the projector image. This SGC-unit (e.g., Perfactory from the German firm EnvisionTEC) can have print speeds up to 20 mm / h and resolution in height (minimum thickness) 0.1 mm. Worth Perfactory (abroad) about 55 thousand Euros.

Over the recent decades rapid prototyping services managed with solving lots of tech problems happening when trying to show a product, design or model. Have you come across such a problem too? Then you are invited to check out a rapid prototyping methodology site.

And don't forget that we are living in the world of high technologies. Bear in mind that current Internet technologies give you a unique opportunity to try and to find anything you might need. Make use of them to look for cheap rapid prototyping. If you want to be aware of new publications on the topic sign up for the RSS feed on this blog.

Photo mask for each layer is printed on the glass. For this it is used the technology, reminiscent of laser printing. Obviously, this method provides significant gains of performance at the expense of illumination at the same time of the polymer layer instead of the point wise scanning. For instance, the company Envisiontec Prefactory offers installation, which takes only 0.3 m 2, so it can be accommodated even in a small office. Material is lighted by the method of Digital Light Processing, or DLP, similar to that is used in digital projection systems. The size for a single working layer (cross section) is of 1280x1024 pixels with a physical pixel size of 150 or 90 microns. Thickness varies from 150 to 90 microns. Prefactory can create prototypes of up to 190x152x230 mm at speeds up to 15 mm (height) per hour. The control is performed with a computer operating system Linux, link with the outside - through a local network.

Selective laser sintering. An alternative method of stereo lithography is Selective Laser Sintering (or SLS). This process was developed in the 80's of last century in the University of Texas at Austin and patented in 1989 by a graduate of the University Karl Dekard.

Selective laser sintering begins when a very thin layer of fusible during heating of the powder is placed into the cooking chamber of a cylindrical shape. It is used a laser for baking powder, resolved within the boundary of the contour of the working chamber. The laser increases the temperature of the powder to the melting point; there is a partial sintering material and forming it into a solid mass. The intensity of the beam is changed in such a way in order to smelt powder only in areas bounded by the geometry of the future construction. As soon as the laser processes the entire layer of powder in this section, immediately a new thin layer is poured and the process repeats. The component is removed from the processing zones and free powder is shaked. SLS-details can be obtained from powders with different grain sizes depending on the future use of parts.

Laser sintering provides a high quality of finished products, although the surface of the model is obtained porous. Advantage - is sufficient for small series production strength of parts. However, SLS-device is expensive, and the playback speed of a digital model is only a few centimeters per hour, plus a few hours on the heating and cooling of the device. In addition to good accuracy and high strength of derived objects, SLS has also such a dignity as an opportunity to receive details of moving parts, such as moving loop connections.

Have you ever faced the problem when you would like to show your product but there is no model? Then definitely you require rapid prototyping. Moreover this technology may be of great use for marketing while the product has not been ready yet. Interesting? Check out this cheap rapid prototyping site.

This rapid prototyping methodology is a strong instrument nowadays. Take advantage of it to explore products, their weak and strong points. Also bear in mind that current Internet technologies offer you a unique chance to try and to find anything you might want. Should you want to keep track of new publications on the topic.

Currently, in the market it is presented a number of RP-systems, producing models using various technologies and various materials. All available systems for rapid prototyping work on a similar - layered principle of construction of the physical model, which consists of three stages:

- Reading three-dimensional geometric information from CAD-systems in a format STL. All CAD-system of solid modeling can broadcast files in STL;

- Decomposition of three-dimensional digital model for cross-sections (layers) with the special program supplied with the equipment;

- Construction the cross of the detail layer by layer from the bottom up until a physical prototype of a digital model is ready. Layers, which are located from the bottom up one above the other, are physically linked to each other. Construction of the prototype continues until receiving data on cross sections of CAD-model.

According to the principle of work all rapid prototyping systems can be divided into two broad classes: the actual RP-systems and 3D-printers. Below there are the technologies used in RP-systems.

Stereo lithography. Stereo lithography (SLA) appeared the first historically. It was developed and patented by famous Charles Hull in the distant 1986. Later, he created the company 3D Systems for the production of the device. Subsequently, German EOS GmbH, the Japanese Sony-DMEC and Mitsui Engineering and others were joined to it.

The technology is in following: in the working space of RP-system there is a photopolymer in a liquid state, which during ultraviolet irradiation hardens in a fairly rigid plastic. Photopolymer is lighted by an ultraviolet laser or a conventional UV lamp. The laser beam is actually point wise processing surface, forming a separate small solid area, from which the cross-section model is formed. Then, the desktop goes along with a portion of the model and construct the next level. A physical model is produced in layers in such a way. Ready "fingerprint" of up to tenths of a millimeter corresponds to a digital model, reproduces fine details of the prototype and provides a fairly smooth surface. It is this technology is most common at present. However stereo lithography devices are expensive (the price is measured in hundreds of thousands of dollars), and a set of processed materials is limited by photopolymer, but nevertheless it is widely used nowadays.

Do you face the problem when you need to show your product but there is no model? Then for sure you need rapid prototyping. In addition this technology may be very useful for marketing while the goods has not been produced yet. Fascinating? Visit this cheap rapid prototyping site.

This rapid prototyping methodology is a powerful tool today. Take advantage of it to study products, their advantages and disadvantages. Also keep in mind that modern Internet technologies give you a unique opportunity to try and to find anything you might require. Should you want to keep track of new publications on the topic.