National University of Singapore

Nanyang Polytechnic

Kah Bin Lim

Li Lu

Yoke San Wong

En Tang Kang

Marcelo H Ang, Jr

Tian Soon Sim

Yoo Sang Choo

Tetsuo Miyazawa

Chee Leong Teo

Yeh Ching Andrew Nee

Han Tong Loh

Ying His Jerry Fuh

Ying Kit Chew

A method for determining the areas of resin to be cured in an optical stereolithography process for rapid prototyping using sequential laser curing of layers of a resin having a selected thickness to produce a desired shape of cured resin. The method includes the steps of generating a computer model of desired shape and dividing the model into layers of thickness equal to the thickness of the layers each defining an area of resin to be cured. A set of layers including and sequentially adjacent an intermediate layer is selected and the areas in the intermediate layer of resin which would be oversized by laser curing of layers later in the curing sequence is determined. The 2-D layer data used to build a 3-D model is modified to compensate for the oversizing and the steps repeated by sequentially selecting sets of layers to include substantially all of the layers as the intermediate layer. The sets are sequentially selected with each subsequent set having the intermediate layer being the layer adjacent the intermediate layer of the previously selected set. The first selected set includes the first layer to be cured and the sequential subsequent sets respectively include as the intermediate layer the subsequently cured adjacent layer.

Method for determining resin curing areas in an optical stereolithography process

An error reduction and accommodation method and system can be used in an automated assembly environment. This method and system use a simple localized calibration process devised to improve similarity between an actual device and a simulated model when an off-line programming technique is used. The system uses grid-hole tables with modular fixtures holding the workpieces. The grid-hole table has round holes instead of screw holes or T-slots and allows modular fixtures with round pins to be placed on the grid-hole table with greater precision. A compliant coupling which is able to accommodate any small error in the system and when used with any end-tool, allows the assembly robot to carry out tasks within the modular system. The use of the grid-hole table and modular fixtures allows the robot, once taught the grid-hole table and the modular fixtures, to be subsequently programmed off-line to carry out any tasks with any standardized modular fixture placed any where on the grid-hole table. The modular fixtures easily slide into any selected grid-holes as required and may be used without further clamping or may be clamped to the grid-hole table, if so desired.

Precision and quick affixing method for flexible automated assembly

Growing community of inventors

Singapore, Singapore

Kah Bin Lim