Title: Parametric modelling and simulation of rapid prototyping

Authors: Y. Ravi Kumar, C.S.P. Rao, T.A. Janardhan Reddy

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Warangal, India. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Warangal, India. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College of Engineering, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India

Abstract: This work proposes a virtual system for parametric modelling and simulation of rapid prototyping (RP) process. The system aims to reduce the manufacturing risks of prototypes early in a product development cycle and, hence, reduce the number of costly design-build-test cycles. It involves modelling and simulation of RP system, which facilitates visualisation and testing the effects of process parameters on the part quality. Modelling of RP is based on qualifying the measures of part quality, which includes accuracy, build-time and efficiency of the selective laser sintering (SLS) process. The model incorporates various process parameters like layer thickness, hatch space, bed temperature, laser power and sinter factor, etc. It has been integrated with the simulation system to provide a testbed to optimise the process parameters.

Keywords: rapid prototyping; RP; selective laser sintering; SLS; parametric modelling; optimisation; simulation; product development; process parameters.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRAPIDM.2009.028932

International Journal of Rapid Manufacturing, 2009 Vol.1 No.1, pp.65 - 87

Published online: 14 Oct 2009 *

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