Techniques for hard tooling using rapid prototyping

摘要

This paper reviews the present state and recent progress in the research and development of RP and RT, and their techniques are classified and summarized. The RT techniques can be classified as soft tooling process, firm tooling process, and hard tooling process according to tooling circle life. At the same time, these tooling processes can be divided into direct and indirect methods according to manufacturing course. The direct and indirect tooling concept, the soft tooling, firm tooling, and hard tooling concept are presented along with five RP techniques. Their processes, features and applications are outlined and compared. Furthermore, what density, dimensional accuracy, surface roughness and mechanical properties can be provided to production tooling is another major consideration in RT. Necessary research and future development are described in terms of RT requirements from RP to RT will be the focus of this paper. At last, many metal tools examples are given.