XMCERA | Ceramic Rapid Prototyping

Working Principle

Rapid prototyping technology is a modern industrial technology that integrates CAD technology, numerical control technology, laser technology and material technology.

Firstly, 3D CAD is used to collect the geometric shape, structure and material combination information of the prototype or part, so as to obtain the 3D data model of the target. Then the 3D data model in the computer is stratified to obtain the contour data of each layer section. The information is then exported to a computer-controlled electromechanical integrated manufacturing system.

Various forming processes according to their own process requirements, control laser (or nozzle) selectively sintered thin layer of ceramic powder, forming a series of small thickness of flake entities, and then using fusion, polymerization, bonding and other means to make it layer by layer into a whole.

Advantages of Rapid Prototyping

▪ Manufacture complex parts

Rapid prototyping technology uses layer-by-layer stacking to prepare parts, which is not limited by the complexity of part shape and structure.

▪ The product development cycle is short

Rapid prototyping technology can make product design and mold production parallel, so as to shorten the cycle of product design and development, accelerate the speed of product upgrading, especially suitable for small batch, complex, shaped products direct production. 

Classification of Ceramic Rapid Prototyping

▪ SLA

SLA technology has been successfully used in the manufacture of complex structure dense/porous ceramic parts, such as microelectronics components, sensors, etc.

▪ LOM

LOM technology can be formed by coating the ceramic sheet with hot melt adhesive and other materials for hot press roller heating, pressing and bonding methods, it and the workpiece has been formed together, using laser scanner cutting molding, repeated operations until all sections bonded and cut molding, solid parts can be obtained.

▪ FDM

FDM technology has the characteristics of small size of forming system, wide range of forming materials, fast forming speed and no environmental pollution.

▪ SLS

Generally, the density of ceramic embryos prepared by SLS is low, and the high density ceramic embryos can be prepared by late impregnation and warm isostatic pressing process, and then the dense materials can be sintered.

▪ 3DP

3DP process adopts the inkjet method of printing technology, the nozzle does not directly contact the powder surface, the parts layer by layer bonding, the technology can mainly control the porosity and the control of the aperture distribution.