Keywords
Citation
Rigelsford, J. (2003), "Soluble mould material", Assembly Automation, Vol. 23 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.2003.03323dad.009
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2003, MCB UP Limited
Soluble mould material
Soluble mould material
Keywords: Moulding, Rapid prototyping, Patents
Applicant: Stratasys, Inc., USAPatent number: US6,437,034Publication date: 20 August 2002Title: Water-soluble rapid prototyping support and mould material
This invention relates to a water-soluble thermoplastic polymer material i.e. poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) for the preparation of three-dimensional prototypes or models. The polymer is melt extruded by a freeforming apparatus in layer form. As the layers solidify upon cooling, complicated shaped parts can be fabricated by precisely and sequentially depositing polymer layers upon one another until the desired component is produced. This enables prototypes to be directly free formed by an extrusion apparatus using a thermoplastic polymer as a raw material. A mould of successful prototypes can be made, allowing the part to be manufactured on a mass production basis.