Rapid Tooling Technology

Rapid Tooling (RT) is an advanced technology that integrate Computer Aided Design(CAD), Computer Aided Manufacture(CAM), Computer Numerical Control(CNC), exact servo, laser technology and material science. It slices the geometry model built by CAD system, gets the outline of each layer. Based on these layers, it uses growth shaping method, like SLA, LOM, SLS or FDM to manufacture the product. It would be widely used in automobile industry, home electric implement manufacturing, toy manufacturing and some other fields.At present, the research on the application of RT has been got some Progress in China. But compared to developed countries, there are lots of problems waiting us to solve.In this thesis, the craft process of RT is researched. On the basic of bui Id ing of tread model, the commonly process of modeling is discussed, so does the method of modeling, the selection of software, etc. On the basic of manufacture of silica gel mould of the copper sculpture named 'bull and tiger' .Discuss the advantage of silica gel mould and the foreground of its application in keepsake manufacturing. Based on the process of building the CAD model of the tower and export it to rapid prototyping machine, four major method of making mould directly in RT is discussed. On the basic of the realism that rapid prototyping technology could not follow the request of volume-produce, the possibility of hard mould making by integrateillEDM and RT is also discussed.