Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Stereo Lithography

> This may be entirely the wrong group and I don't want to upset
> anyone, but does any one in this group have any experience with
> stereo lithography or rapid prototyping? I know you folks output
> to mills and lathes but I havent been able to find enough info out
> about SL to make certain descisions about a project I beginning.

I work for the MIT research group which developed the powdered
(plaster, ceramic, stainless steel, etc) material & inkjet-delivered
binder method which we call 3D Printing (TM). Our approach is
available commercially from Extrudehone (functional metal parts), Z
Corporation (conceptual and semi-function models) and Soligen (ceramic
shells for casting).

Which technology to choose all depends on the intended use - for some
applications our approach is the best. For others photopolymers
(Stereo Lithography), fused depostion (cnc hot glue gun) or laminated
object (glued paper cutouts) may be better.

With many of these systems you have the options of buying a machine or
simply paying to have your parts made - the trickier evolving
technologies and material systems tend to be parts only without the
option of machine purchase.

Stereolithography's faceted-shell STL file format is more or less used
as the standard across the industry. Most CAD packages can generate
this, although it can take some fiddling with settings to get good
results.

Chris