SLA 'trapped volumes' problems solved

The problem of 'trapped voluems', when an SLA model deforms, looses accuracy or collapses during the building process, has been solved by a research team.

Experts at Cardiff University's Manufacturing Engineering Centre (MEC) have solved a problem affecting models made by Stereolithography (SLA).

Patent applications have been lodged.

SLA creates prototype models of products, such as mobile phone covers or vacuum cleaner shells, by using an Ultra Violet light beam to solidify liquid resins in response to instructions fed into the machine from data created by a 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) model.

During the building process, these models - particularly hollow ones - can collapse, become deformed or simply inaccurate, which can result in time delays and increased costs as the failed process is disposed of and the new process is started.

This problem is known as 'trapped volumes' and has now been remedied.

Professor of Advanced Manufacturing and deputy director of the MEC, Stefan Dimov said: "This is another example of the research work carried out at the MEC solving difficult technical problems, improving commercial practices and assisting the global competitiveness of UK manufacturing companies." SLA came into vogue in the UK in the 1990s at the same time as 3D CAD systems became available at increasingly affordable prices.

The process automated and largely replaced traditional model making skills, which meant that models could be made overnight and delivered to the client a couple of days later.

SLA is now widely used to create early examples of covers and components, which allows engineers to confirm the fit and iron out any problems with assembly.

It also allows marketing people to test the product in the marketplace at the earliest stage of product development.

* About MEC - the MEC was one of the first centres in the UK to provide this process to industry and also creates 3D CAD models for companies, which do not have 3D CAD facilities.

MEC operates the largest models of SLA equipment on the market, which allows companies to make large and often complex parts such as the body of a vacuum cleaner, or simultaneously produce numbers of smaller parts.

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