Rapid Configuration 3D Printer
Team Members Heading link
- Benjamin Hawkinson
- Dan Santoyo
- Dominique Slezak
- Ryan Tris
Advisor: Atif Yardimci, PhD
Sponsor: Luxx Enterprises
Project Description Heading link
Select industries have begun to adopt additive manufacturing as a viable alternative to traditional manufacturing methods. One of the major factors that has prevented the widespread adoption of additive manufacturing has been the cycle time required to produce a given object. In order to reduce cycle time, a novel method of additive manufacturing has been developed which employs a rapidly configurable mold cavity. The mold cavity is formed by an addressable pin array. The array is able to configure into a user defined shape, after which a polymer is dispensed and cured within the mold cavity. The part is ejected, and the mold cavity is ready to reconfigure itself. The examined methodology provided a reduction in cycle time and has opened the doors for alternative materials to be utilized. In order to determine the practicality of this method, a prototype has been assembled and tested.
See supporting documentation in the team’s Box drive.