Prototyping Large-Sized Objects Using Freeform Thick Layers of Plastic Foam

Current Rapid Prototyping systems are primarily aimed at small-sized objects containing many shape details. In this paper a Rapid Prototyping technology is presented that is aimed at largesized objects having a complex, freeform outer shape. This new technology builds the model out ofthick layers, each having freeform outside faces. The paper will present: an overview of current methods to produce large prototypes, the basics of the new method, the technology used to produce the layers, the toolpath planning and finally the overall system design.Mechanical Engineerin

Kecerdasan matematik-logik dalam kalangan pelajar sarjana Pendidikan Teknik dan Vokasional UTHM

Kecerdasan matematik-logik sering dikaitkan dengan penguasaan pelajar dalam subjek matematik. Pencapaian pelajar, khususnya pelajar Sarjana Pendidikan Teknik dan Vokasional, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) dalam kursus Statistik dalam Penyelidikan sedikit sebanyak mempengaruhi pencapaian akademik pelajar. Oleh itu, kajian ini dijalankan untuk mengkaji pengaruh kecerdasan matematik-logik terhadap pencapaian pelajar dalam kursus Statistik dalam Penyelidikan. Kajian berbentuk tinjauan secara kuantitatif untuk melihat hubungan diantara dua pembolehubah iaitu pembolehubah tidak bersandar (kecerdasan matematik-logik) dan pembolehubah bersandar (penguasaan pelajar dalam kursus Statistik dalam Penyelidikan). Persampelan rawak mudah digunakan dalam kajian ini dengan mengambil sampel seramai 108 orang pelajar Sarjana Pendidikan Teknik dan Vokasional sebagai responden kajian. Data diperoleh daripada sampel dengan menggunakan borang soal selidik yang diolah berdasarkan alat pengukuran kecerdasan MIDAS (Multiple Intelligence Development Assessment Scales). Data dianalisis menggunakan perisian SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) versi 16.0 yang melibatkan ujian statistik skor min dan kolerasi pangkat Spearman. Hasil dapatan kajian menunjukkan tahap kecenderungan kecerdasan matematik-logik pelajar berada pada tahap yang tinggi dan mempunyai hubungan yang signifikan dengan pencapaian pelajar dalam kursus Statistik dalam Penyelidikan. Berdasarkan dapatan kajian boleh disimpulkan bahawa kecerdasan matematik-logik dapat dijadikan kayu ukur dalam memastikan kejayaan pelajar

Freeform Fabrication of Ionomeric Polymer-Metal Composite Actuators

Ionomeric polymer-metal composite (IPMC) actuators are a type of soft electromechanically active material which offers large displacement, rapid motion with only ~1V stimulus. IPMC’s are entering commercial applications in toys (Ashley 2003) and biomedical devices (Soltanpour 2001; Shahinpoor 2002; Shahinpoor, Shahinpoor et al. 2003; Soltanpour and Shahinpoor 2003; Soltanpour and Shahinpoor 2004), but unfortunately they can only actuate by bending, limiting their utility. Freeform fabrication offers a possible means of producing IPMC with novel geometry and/or tightly integrated with mechanisms which can yield linear or more complex motion. We have developed materials and processes which allow us to freeform fabricate complete IPMC actuators and their fabrication substrate which will allow integration within other freeform fabricated devices. We have produced simple IPMC’s using our multiple material freeform fabrication system, and have demonstrated operation in air for more than 40 minutes and 256 bidirectional actuation cycles. The output stress scaled to input power is two orders of magnitude inferior to that of the best reported performance for devices produced in the traditional manner, but only slightly inferior to devices produced in a more similar manner. Possible explanations and paths to improvement are presented. Freeform fabrication of complete electroactive polymer actuators in unusual geometries, with tailored actuation behavior, and integrated with other freeform fabricated active components, will enable advances in biomedical device engineering, biologically inspired robotics, and other fields. This work constitutes the first demonstration of complete, functional, IPMC actuators produced entirely by freeform fabrication.Mechanical Engineerin

Survey on Additive Manufacturing, Cloud 3D Printing and Services

Cloud Manufacturing (CM) is the concept of using manufacturing resources in a service oriented way over the Internet. Recent developments in Additive Manufacturing (AM) are making it possible to utilise resources ad-hoc as replacement for traditional manufacturing resources in case of spontaneous problems in the established manufacturing processes. In order to be of use in these scenarios the AM resources must adhere to a strict principle of transparency and service composition in adherence to the Cloud Computing (CC) paradigm. With this review we provide an overview over CM, AM and relevant domains as well as present the historical development of scientific research in these fields, starting from 2002. Part of this work is also a meta-review on the domain to further detail its development and structure

From 3D Models to 3D Prints: an Overview of the Processing Pipeline

Due to the wide diffusion of 3D printing technologies, geometric algorithms for Additive Manufacturing are being invented at an impressive speed. Each single step, in particular along the Process Planning pipeline, can now count on dozens of methods that prepare the 3D model for fabrication, while analysing and optimizing geometry and machine instructions for various objectives. This report provides a classification of this huge state of the art, and elicits the relation between each single algorithm and a list of desirable objectives during Process Planning. The objectives themselves are listed and discussed, along with possible needs for tradeoffs. Additive Manufacturing technologies are broadly categorized to explicitly relate classes of devices and supported features. Finally, this report offers an analysis of the state of the art while discussing open and challenging problems from both an academic and an industrial perspective.Comment: European Union (EU); Horizon 2020; H2020-FoF-2015; RIA - Research and Innovation action; Grant agreement N. 68044