A flexible and efficient system for removing support materials from rapid prototypes

摘要

Removing support material from rapid prototypes fabricated by fused deposition modeling system is required once the physical model is completed. Removing support materials from Rapid prototypes efficiently is an important concern because the product life cycle is shorter than before. A highly flexible and highly efficient system for removing the support materials from rapid prototypes was implemented. The effects of process parameters on the removal efficiency of support materials were investigated. The efficiency of removing support materials was investigated using optimal processing parameters. The removing time can be predicted directly from the volume of the support materials according to the equation proposed in this work. The relative error can be controlled within 5.18 %. Surface roughness improvement of up to 41.89 % is achieved using the optimal processing parameters. Mechanisms of removing support materials for the general and hollow Rapid prototypes were also presented.