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A Solid Freeform Fabrication (SFF) system using Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is currently recognized as a leading process and SLS extends the applications to machinery and automobiles due to the various materials employed. Especially, accuracy and processing time are very important factors when the desired shape is fabricated with Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), one of Solid Freeform Fabrication (SFF) system. In the convectional SLS process, laser spot size is fixed during laser exposing on the sliced figure. Therefore, it is difficult to accuracy and rapidly fabricates the desired shape. In this paper, to deal with those problems a SFF system having ability of changing spot size is developed. The system provides high accuracy and optimal processing time. Specifically, a variable beam expander is employed to adjust spot size for different figures on a sliced shape. Therefore, design and performance estimation of the SFF system employing a variable beam expander are achieved and the mechanism will be addressed to measure the real spot size generated from the variable beam expander. Also, the reduction of total processing time is an important issue in SFF system. A digital mirror system (DMS) is a system which scans the laser beam with different spot size. The spot size is selected based on the slicing section to decrease and accuracy of the process time and improve the processing efficiency. In this study, the optimal scan path generation for DMS will be addressed, and this development will improve the whole processing efficiency and accuracy through the scan efficiency by considering the existing scan path algorithm and heat energy distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, Study of 3D freeform fabrication method was working in the various applications. For example, in the powder base, it's laminated using a binding method or laser sintering method. However, the demerits of these methods are to take long time for post process and not enough to keep high strength of manufacturing part. The binding method needs the post process and the time for post process needs longer time than a manufacturing time. The sintering method has huge size of system with module of the laser. In this paper, we introduce a method of 3D freeform fabrication using a curing of photopolymer resin. A photopolymer curing method has simply fabrication process and high strength of manufacturing part. So, we are configuration the system with compact type module for the office environment and experiment a UV curing test with photopolymer resin in the 3D freeform fabrication method. In the conclusion, we fabricate the 3D freeform part, which is suitable to the office environment using a photopolymer curing method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The freezing and thawing cycles tests were conducted on red sandstone and shale. In this paper, freezing-thawing damage propagation processes are analyzed, and two deterioration modes, i.e. scaling mode for red sandstone and fracturing mode for shale, are suggested. The uniaxial compression tests are also conducted on the two types of rock subjected to different freeze-thaw cycles at room temperature. It is shown that the uniaxial compression strength and the elastic modulus of rocks at low-temperature depended on the number of freeze-thaw cycles. The mechanism and influence factors of rock deterioration due to freeze-thaw are analyzed, and the damage process of rock should be divided into two coupled parts: rocks damage due to freeze-thaw cycle as well as the damage propagation caused by stress erosion. The damage evolvement equations for the two rocks are established, and the constitutive equations for the two types of rock subjected to freeze-thaw are deduced, accordingly. It is approved that the constitutive model considering the freeze-thaw damage is credible and can be used for the following theory analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To expand an inevitably limited rotating range of the existing planar precision stage, we suggest a revolving stage driven by three-separate axial type of transverse flux induction motors spaced 120° apart. It is a non-contact integrated rotating system that uses three-axial vector forces such as normal and thrust force of each motor. In this paper, the primary principles capable of realizing such a contact-less revolving stage are reviewed and compared, with results that seem to confirm the main principles of the suggested system. And then, the positioning method with only the air-gap measurements covering full degree of freedom is presented, compared with that of existing stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scanning probe lithography such as direct–writing lithographic processes and nanoscratching techniques based on scanning probe microscopy have presented new micromachining methods for microelectromechanical system (MEMS). In this paper, a micromachining system for thermal scanning probe lithography is introduced, which consists of the cantilever arrays and a big stroke micro XY–stage. A large machining area and high machining speed can be realized by combining arrays of cantilevers possessing sharp tips at their top with the novel micro XY–stage which can obtain big displacements under relatively low driving voltage and in a small size. According to the above configuration, this micromachining system is provided with high throughputs and suitable for industrialization due to its MEMS–based simple fabrication process. The novel micro XY–stage applied in this system is presented in detail including the unique structure and principles, which shows an obvious improvement and distinct advantages in comparison with traditional structures. It is analyzed by mathematical model and then simulated using finite element method (FEM), it is proved to be able to practically serve the micromachining system with high capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]