A CAM-based path generation method for rapid prototyping applications

Abstract

A wide range of rapid prototyping (RP) methods are available commercially. Even though the hardware and production materials of these RP methods differ, their production techniques are built on the same idea: layer-by-layer material additive manufacturing. Whatever the material is used, it is deposited, vulcanized, or melted by following a pre-determined path, and each layer is stowed on the previous one to create the 3D model which is designed by using a computer-aided design program. The path which is followed while creating the model is very crucial. In this paper, a novel idea for path generation for RP processes is introduced. This new method is based on computer numerical controlled milling operation. Although the RP process and the milling process are completely opposite of each other since one of them is an additive and the other one is a subtractive method, the paths which are followed for these operations are very similar and based on the same idea: The progress goes on layer by layer. In this novel method, cutter location source files are used to create paths for RP processes. Examples of the prototypes produced by using this new method are also presented in the paper.