The integration of RE and RP techniques in industrial field

摘要

The purpose of this paper is to present some aspects about rapid prototyping which stays at the base of manufacturing design using CAD/CAM programs, scanning and measuring machining and its integration in industrial field. Products made by rapid prototyping express a low risk failure and the manufacturing process takes less time than the conventional technique also at lower costs which is a big economical advantage. A new gasket for a ball screw used in a bending tube machine was produced by rapid prototyping techniques starting from a broken one. First the broken gasket was scanned by Modela Roland LPX-600 scanning machine obtaining the primary 3D model which is imported to CAD/CAM programs and the final product is achieved on ISEL GFM 4433 milling machine. The new gasket material improves the tool wear and life, scuff resistance, breaking strength and handling characteristic.The gasket mechanical characteristics were investigated by finite element analysis (FEA). FEA provides a way of simulating the gasket design under working condition and an opportunity to understand interactions with the mating machine. Therefore, problems in tooling or mold mating would be minimized. After that the gasket is assembled on the ball screw of the bending tube machine in order to observe its functional behavior.