The Effect of Rapid Prototype Tooling on Final Product Properties

Parties Involved: 

Student(s): Kent Dawson 
Faculty Member(s):  John Muzzy,  Jon Colton 
Industry Member(s): 3D Systems,  Durden 
 

Brief Project Description: 
 

• Injection molds are produced quickly and inexpensively, however, these molds cannot accurately represent the final parts' material properties
• Research will focus primarily upon analysis and contrasts of the effect of rapidly prototyped and conventional steel molds, in terms of final part properties.
• The degradation and heat transfer character of sterolithograhpic (SL) composite molds is one of the most important factors considered in this study.
• Geometrically identical steel and composite SL molds producing ASTM standard tesnsile, flexural, and falling dart impact specimens will be studied with atatic and syndiotatic polystyrene. After properties of eacn specimen are measured, heat transfer tests and simulations will be conducted to predict the material properties of the process part from that of its prototype.
• To date, the SL composite mold has been designed, produced, and backfilled with a low melting point alloy.
• 
  Injection molding and mechanical testing should be complete before the new year.