Sugar-based Rapid Prototyping Process Parameters Optimization

Sugar-based rapid prototyping is one kind of rapid prototyping methods based on selective laser sintering, because of the fact that the forming material is extensive、green and do no harm to human body and environment, even can be eaten, therefore, it has a very broad application prospects and the study on mechanism of sugar-based rapid prototyping and its process parameters has important theoretical significance and practical value.The Paper researched the characteristics of base material, seeked suitable material for rapid prototyping, analyzed the main performance parameters of the rapid prototyping equipment and molding parts forming mechanism, analyzed theoretically the process parameters affecting sugar-based rapid prototyping technology, studied the important process parameters(laser power、scanning speed、the scanning interval 、thickness of powder、preheating temperature) which can be controlled in the forming process, selected the laser power, preheating temperature, scanning speed and powder thickness four process parameters to design and carried out the orthogonal experiments, With the sintered parts’ bending strength as the measure, at last acquired a set of optimal process parameters combination( laser power for 20W、preheating temperature is 90℃、 scanning speed is 2200 mm/s、spread powder thickness of 0.25 mm).Carry out the experimental verification on optimal process parameters. First analysized the influence factors on parts dimension precision and intensity, second verified the main control parameters on dimension precision and intensity by single factor experiment, at last under different process parameters combination, by sintering parts and measuring their dimensional accuracy and strength, it is concluded that with the optimal process parameters combination, the parts’ dimensional accuracy and strength are the best. At the same time, it also shows that the sugar-based rapid prototyping with the set of optimal process parameters combination through orthogonal design test method is successful, and can be used in the sintering process.