Re: 3D Printers (or in keeping with the season .. Santa Claus machines

Has anyone here tried to built their own rapid prototyping
(Santa Claus) machine. UV lasers are kinda nasty beasts.
I've done a lot of work with HeCad's and they are both
cheap and reliable. I know this is slightly off topic
but in a way it's kinda like EDM in reverse in terms of
some of the issues to address :-)

Ken J.

> Message: 5
> Date: Tue, 10 Dec 2002 08:09:15 -0800
> From: Bill Higdon <w.higdon@...>
> Subject: Re: 3D Printer
>
> T3D systems uses an acrylicmonomer that is curred by a UV Laser, a
> movable platen in the tank moves down(z axis) as each layer is writen by
> the laser x&y axis.
> Bill Higdon
> Chris L wrote:
>>
>> "Ian W. Wright" wrote:
>>
>>
>>> This is a fascinating subject - especially as I'm just playing around with
>>> the Gingery design for an injection moulding machine which is, itself,
>>> basically a big glue gun for plastic! The biggest problem would seem to be
>>> the regulation of droplet size but perhaps you could use a kind of cylinder
>>> and plunger but with some form of solenoid to tap the top of the plunger and
>>> make it squirt a 'standard sized' drop of wax out of the nozzle.
>>
>>
>> Exactly, but you know, I've Got it ! You can find "metered dispensers" on
>> E-bay once in a while. You need to use really thick UV cure urethane. The UV
>> cure stuff is one part so the dispenser does not
>> have to mix for one thing, AND under UV light, the stuff sets up like Pronto
>> ! The metered pump can deliver the little Fly poop size dots you need to
>> build up an object.
>>
>> This UV cure product is the same stuff you see on these little badges and
>> tags. Lot's of you have them in that little square hole on the front of your
>> PC tower. Smooth, curved..... Ok. here's another
>> place youve seen it, The "NEON" label of a Dodge Neon. The companies that
>> make those things drop a fixed amount on top of graphics with pick and place
>> type equipment. It flows to the edge and they Nuke
>> It with UV.
>>
>> I've done this stuff with two part urethane right on top of vinyl Graphics (
>> I got one of them cutters too). Takes about 15-20 min to set up though and it
>> is real fussy for humidty and temp. Almost
>> need a clean room.
>>
>> But, I think the UV cure stuff is the ticket.
>>
>> Homebrew Rapid Prototyping here we come.
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Tue, 10 Dec 2002 11:39:01 -0600
> From: CL <datac@...>
> Subject: Re: CNC 3D Printer
>
> Some links for the "juice". Of particular interest is the UV cure. Small
> "dots" of it should cure almost instantly IF you can generate
> concentrated UV light at the spot it was dispensed. One page shows
> automated machines......
>
> http://www.deco-coat.com/uv.html
> http://www.spandex.com/products_and_services/vinyl/crystalcast.htm
> http://www.glotrax.com/uvc.html
> http://www.mockridge.com/
> http://www.star-technology.com/table1.html
> http://www.win-uk.net/~interfax/resin/doming.htm
>
> Chris L
>