Rapid Manufacturing - The Expert's View

Jul 28, 2010 - Additive Manufacturing Technology that Fabricates Submicron 3D Structures by SpecialChem (Innovation Brief)

High Q Laser has recently introduced a compact solid-state laser source called “femtoTRAIN™ Ti:Sapphire”. This all-diode-pumped oscillator offers repetitive laser beams at a frequency of femtoseconds. It is ideal for nano-structuring...
May 19, 2010 - Significant Weight Reduction for Minimal Cost Increase by SpecialChem (Innovation Brief)

With only 3% increase in component cost, Lotus Engineering has helped reduce the vehicle mass of Toyota Venza crossover utility vehicle (CUV) by 33%, and fuel consumption by 23%. To achieve this, Lotus used a combination of stronger and...
Apr 05, 2010 - What's New in Additive Manufacturing: An "Industry Father" Looks Forward by SpecialChem (Article)

Terry Wohlers is the President, Founder and Principal Consultant of Wohlers Associates Inc., an independent consulting firm that works closely with manufacturing organizations to identify the best approaches to rapid product development and...
Mar 01, 2010 - Flying High with Rapid Manufacturing by SpecialChem (Article)

It is well-known that rapid prototyping techniques such as laser sintering have become commonplace as methods for making short-run manufacturing parts. Hearing aid shells are probably the best-known example: manufacturers make a digital...
Jan 26, 2010 - The future of electronic products: conductive 3D printing? by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

This paper describes a curved-layer additive manufacturing technology that has the potential to print plastic components with integral conductive polymer electronic circuits. Researchers at AUT University in New Zealand and the National... (1 Member Reaction)
Jan 18, 2010 - Injection moldings in hybrid molds by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Hybrid molds with moldings blocks made with epoxy composites are being used in injection moldings of precision parts. The epoxy composites are vacuum cast in silicone molds. The cycle time is substantially increased by the low thermal... (1 Member Reaction)
Dec 30, 2009 - Novel processing additives for rotational molding of polyethylene by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Over 85% of the articles manufactured via rotational molding employ PE resins. PE resins used for rotomolding have usually particle sizes less than about 0.8 mm and used as powders or micro-pellets. During heating in a rotating mold,...
Sep 29, 2009 - Laser forming of Plastics by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Laser forming is achieved by plastic deformation induced by thermal stresses resulting from rapid nonlinear thermal cycles using lasers. Unlike mechanical forming, the process requires no hard tooling or external forces and thus there is... (2 Member Reactions)
Aug 07, 2009 - Labeled containers made from expandable thermoplastic materials having improved physical properties by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

This patent application provides labeled thin-wall containers molded from pre-expanded expandable thermoplastic particles having a label disposed over at least a portion of the outer surface of the container. The label has a thickness of...
Jun 23, 2009 - Photocurable resin composition for producing three dimensional articles having high clarity using stereolithography by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

This invention provides a low viscosity photo curable composition including (i) a cationically curable component comprising a polyglycidyl epoxy compd. (ii) a free radically active component (iii) a cationic photoinitiator (v) a free...
May 18, 2009 - Rapid prototyping encapsulation for polymer light-emitting lasers by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Rapid prototyping of packaging elements using SLA for the encapsulation of plastic optoelectronic devices is demonstrated.
May 03, 2009 - Crosslinkable and foaming polyester-polyurethane (hybrid) resin molding compositions, with foaming characteristics for closed mold applications by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

This patent application describes a reactive monomer mixture containing both vinyl and PU monomers. The PU and vinyl polymerization processes take place rapidly and simultaneously in the mold to produce low density high strength parts...
May 03, 2009 - Rapid Prototyping of a Double-Layer Polyurethane-Collagen Conduit for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

A new technique for preparing double-layer PU-collagen nerve conduits for peripheral nerve repair via a double-nozzle, low-temperature, deposition manufacturing (DLDM) system has been developed. The DLDM system is based on a digital...
Apr 26, 2009 - Development of a helicopter landing gear prototype using resin infusion molding by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Resin transfer molding is used for fabricating advanced polymer composites. It has the advantage of simple, potential automation, and low cost. The process involves injecting reactive resin into a closed mold with preplaced fiber preform....
Apr 19, 2009 - Rapid prototyping of microfluidic systems using a PDMS/polymer tape composite by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Rapid prototyping of microfluidic systems using a combination of double-sided tape and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is described. PDMS is typically difficult to bond using adhesive tapes due to its hydrophobic nature and low surface energy....
Apr 12, 2009 - Method and apparatus for manufacturing molded plate by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

According to the invention, it is possible to easily manuf. a molded plate of a desired size by laminating an unnecessary, inexpensive resin not used as a product in the width direction of a molded plate and simply sepg. the unnecessary...
Apr 12, 2009 - Suitability analysis of a polymer-metal hybrid technology based on high-strength steels and direct polymer-to-metal adhesion for use in load-bearing automotive body-in-white applications by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

A comprehensive set of computational engineering analyses is carried out in order to assess the suitability of a "direct adhesion" polymer-metal hybrid (PMH) technology for use in load-bearing automotive body-in-white (BIW) components. ...
Apr 09, 2009 - Welding arrangement for plastic components by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

The welding of plastic components using vibration.
Mar 31, 2009 - Method and apparatus for manufacturing components used for the manufacture of molded articles and manufacture of an article of footwear by the method thereof. by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

The method of manufacturing a mold comprises the steps of (a) forming a first plate from a first material, (b) forming a mold insert using a rapid prototyping technique, and having the mold insert being formed of a 2nd material, (c) forming...
Mar 31, 2009 - Virtual testing of sandwich core structures using dynamic finite element simulations by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Heimbs, Sebastian. EADS Innovation Works, Munich, Germany. Computational Materials Science (2009), 45(2), 205-216. Publisher: Elsevier B.V. - Virtual testing using dynamic finite element simulations is an efficient way to...
Mar 30, 2009 - MEDTEC UK : A Window on a 'Recession-Proof' Industry by SpecialChem (Article)

Far from being just another exhibition where you meet customers you already know, MEDTEC UK, the major medical exhibition in the UK is a showcase for raw materials, manufacturing technology, automation and outsourcing. Co-located with 3C,...
Mar 25, 2009 - Resistively welded part for an appliance including a surface cleaning apparatus. by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

A part for an appliance, such as a surface cleaning apparatus, a method of making the part, and a method of disassembling the part are disclosed. The part comprises at least first and second plastic members resistively welded together. In...
Mar 10, 2009 - Adhesives for bonding to low surface energy surfaces by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

The use of a polymodal asymmetric elastomeric block copolymer in a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape and an adhesive-backed article made therefrom are disclosed. A polymer foam article having a substantially smooth surface is prepared by...
Mar 08, 2009 - Biodegradable nanocomposites with improved physical properties created via solid-state shear pulverization by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Production of biodegradable PCL/montmorillonite nanocomposites by solid-state shear pulverization lead to composites with reduced oxygen permeation, faster isothermal crystalizaiton times, and increased Young's modulus.
Mar 08, 2009 - Resistively welded part for an appliance including a surface cleaning apparatus by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

A part for an appliance, such as a surface cleaning app., a method of making the part, and a method of disassembling the part are disclosed. The part comprises at least first and second plastic members resistively welded together. In some...
Mar 01, 2009 - Microwave-Assisted Chemistry: a Rapid and Sustainable Route to Synthesis of Organics and Nanomaterials by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

The use of emerging microwave (MW)-assisted techniques in conjunction with benign reaction media is dramatically reducing waste and production times in many chemical and polymer processes. The present review summarizes recent developments...
Feb 22, 2009 - Rapid prototyping of scaphoid and lunate bones by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

In this study, a novel rapid prototyping technology was used to fabricate scaphoid and lunate bone prostheses, two carpal bones that are prone to avascular necrosis. Carpal prostheses were fabricated with an Envisiontec Perfactory SXGA...
Feb 18, 2009 - CAD on the cheap by SpecialChem (Article)

The world is turning digital. Typewriters are almost extinct - but in design, a surprising number of people still use pen and paper to create rough sketches. Moving to CAD, it usually involves large amounts of money. But one enterprising...
Feb 08, 2009 - Hollow fiber membrane for humidifier and method for manufacturing the same by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Hollow fiber membranes are used for a humidifier which exhibits superior moisture/heat-resistance and excellent hydrophilicity and can be manufactured at low cost, and a method for manufacturing the same. The hollow fiber membrane includes...
Feb 08, 2009 - Total Life Cycle-Based Materials Selection for Polymer Metal Hybrid Body-in-White Automotive Components by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Over the last dozen of years, polymer metal hybrid (PMH) technologies have established themselves as viable alternatives for use in light-wt. automotive body-in-white bolt-on as well as load-bearing (structural) components. Within the PMH...