Computer Solutions and Software
Fig. 1. Z Corporation has launched a low-cost, entry-level 3D printer, the Zprinter 350.
4 Reducing the time and costs involved in getting products to market is a major concern for design managers today, yet this must be achieved without compromising the quality of the design. Paul Stevens looks at some of the latest developments.
Processes and affordable equipment speed new product development
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rototypes have traditionally been either functional - in which the appearance is usually different to that of the proposed design - or visual ‘look alike’ models with
limited functionality. The first generation of rapid prototyping processes were also restricted in terms of the physical properties of the components they output, resulting in a compromise that was better but still fell short of the ideal. Unless the rapid- prototyped parts were subsequently used to create moulds for investment castings, the opportunities for rapid manufacturing were even fewer. However, advances in equipment and
materials have changed all this. Improvements in rapid prototyping processes - which includes stereolithography (SLA), selective laser sintering (SLS) and fused deposition modelling (FDM) - combined with sophisticated materials means that prototypes are now closer than ever to the final part.
In some cases, the techniques are also used rapid manufacturing of short-run production parts. At the 2009 TCT show in the UK, Laser Lines
showed how the latest generation of Fortus 400mc and 900mc ‘3D production systems’ from Stratasys can make finished parts in polyetherimide (PEI) resin. The Ultem 9085 grade of PEI, from Sabic Innovative Plastics, is a new addition to a range of materials - such as ABS, PC-ABS, PC and PPS - that can be used on Fortus machines to produce finished parts. Like many similar systems, it does this using digital data to ‘print’ 3D parts. While the PEI grade was launched specifically for aerospace applications, Laser Lines says it is also suitable for use in other industries that can benefit from its high resistance to heat and chemicals, as well as its tensile and flexural strength. This grade is certified for FST (fire, smoke and toxicity), which sets it apart from most other materials developed for rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing.
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