Browsing by Author "Partain, Seth Collins"

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Fused deposition modeling with localized pre-deposition heating using forced air
(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Engineering, 2007) Partain, Seth Collins; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Douglas S. Cairns
Rapid prototyping (RP) systems have been used for several years to produce design prototypes without expensive tooling costs. As these systems have matured, there has been increasing interest in using them to produce actual end-use parts. Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is an RP technology that has been identified by many as having strong potential for this transition from rapid prototyping to rapid manufacturing, due primarily to its capability of using a wide array of high performance materials. FDM creates parts layer-by-layer, extruding semi-molten material "roads" through a computer-controlled nozzle onto the substrate, which is mounted on an indexing platform. This manufacturing process creates anisotropic parts, with strength properties greater along material roads than across roads or between layers.