Centre D'ingéniérie De Recherche Et De Transfert De L'esstin À Saint Die (c.i.r.t.e.s.)

Alain Wadsworth

Claude Barlier

A device for producing plates made of metal, plastic or a metallo-plastic composite material, including thermofusible, thermoplastic and thermosettable materials, by machining with a machining tool in a fast prototyping process, includes a plate mold integrated in the prototyping machine. The mold is adapted to receive a material matching the shape of the mold, and to subject the plate to a heating/cooling cycle using a heating/cooling device integrated in the mold body, and additionally includes a vat (), a base plate (), a heating circuit () and a fluid circulation circuit ().

Device for producing plates designed for a fast prototyping process, method for machining and assembling said plates and resulting plates and prototype workpieces

A vise structure for maintaining in position parts which are to be machined, including but not limited to parts which are to undergo micro-milling operations in a fast prototyping process, includes a fixing bed having a cavity for receiving a thermofusible material which is capable of being reversibly brought from a liquid state to a solid state. A free surface of the fixing bed is continuously urged into contact with the surface of a part which is to be machined, and the fixing bed includes apparatus for heating and cooling the thermofusible material to enable a part arranged on the fixing bed to be selectively released and retained in position on the fixing bed.

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Ban de Laveline, France

Alain Wadsworth