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Rapid Prototyping has come to mean different
things to different people. To some companies the priority is
conceptual model design and to others it is high accuracy proof
of fit. The same is true for choice of tools for these applications.
For some the end product of prototyping is always similar, and
so the process is well defined and consistent. For others flexibility
is crucial.
What LaserCAMM™ offers is not a tool
to compete with those applications, where the end product is
consistently well suited to such equipment as STL or LOM machines.
"The customer that really appreciates our product is the
one that needs flexibility," says Douglas Huynh, president
of Laser Basics Inc. "We can produce 3D models or
mold patterns using our CSP slicing software, or quick turn 2D
parts in rigid or flexible materials over 2 feet by 4 feet and
up to 1 inch thick. This versatility is critical today in a market
that is constantly changing. We all need to keep our options
open."
The rapid prototyping techniques of
LaserCAMM™ are intended for large projects such as interior and
exterior models of concept cars, aerospace nose cones, wind tunnel
models - projects that don’t lend themselves to conventional
rapid prototyping methods.
3D Prototyping
While the LaserCAMM™ cuts in a two-dimensional
path, final parts do not have the same restrictions.
Stacking
The simplest method of creating
a 3D part form 2D-cut material is stacking. This method is frequently
used in architectural applications where building facades are
created using mixed materials, such as mat board scored with
a brick pattern for the exterior, layered mat board for trim,
and clear acrylic for windows. Each wall is then joined to its
adjacent wall to form the final structure.
Cross Sectional Prototyping
More complex shapes can be created
from a 3D-surfaced CAD file using LaserCAMM™’s proprietary
CSP (Cross Sectional Prototyping) Software. This program essentially
"slices" the part into sections, the width of slices
selected by the operator. These individual sections are automatically
numbered and holes can be created in the parts to insert rods
for alignment. In this manner complex 3D shapes can be formed
very quickly.
Another feature of the CSP Software
is the ability to slice the 3D part in two perpendicular directions
with space between the slices. Slots allow the cross sections
to interlock in an open cell framework, like an egg crate; and
the final form can be filled with foam and then finished. This
process can also be used to create molds for casting or forming
parts.
Please
download a demonstration copy of our software. To
install, first unzip the file to a temporary folder. Next, go
into the Disk1 folder and click on "Setup.exe". The
program will then install itself. Full instructions and a tutorial
on how to use the program can be found in the program's helpfile.
The demonstration version's limitation, is that it will only
process one file, which automatically loads up when the program
is executed.
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