Electrophotographic Solid Freeform Fabrication

摘要

A method for solid freeform fabrication based on electrophotographic powder deposition was investigated to study its potentials and to identity design and implementation challenges. In this technique powder is printed layer- by-layer in the shape of the cross-sections of the part using electrophotography, which is a very widely used non-impact printing method. The electrophotography process involves picking and depositing powder using an electrostatically charged photoconducting surface. Each layer of powder is consolidated by fusing before the next layer of powder is printed. A fully automated test bed was constructed that consists of a printing system, fusing/ heating plate, a build platform that has two-degrees of freedom as well as software that drives the system. Electrophotography provides high printing resolution and accuracy that is particularly suited for printing fine powder (5- 20 microns) to build small objects. In addition to rapid prototyping, applications of this process include layered manufacturing of a variety of micro and meso-scaled objects and assemblies.