Stereolithography (SL) is one of the popular RP processes used for rapid tooling applications.The contribution of three parameters namely layer thickness, post-curing time andorientation are the most significant to the strength of SL product. In this paper, an attempthas been made to identify the process parameters that influence on the strength of partsmade with CIBA TOOL 5530 in SL 5000 machine, one of the processes used for rapid toolingand optimize the parameter levels. Addition to the above, a process model (empiricalrelationship/regression model) between part strength (tensile, impact, flexural) and the above-mentioned process parameters (layer thickness, post-curing time and orientation)has been developed. The process model obtained by the empirical relation can predict howmuch strength can be achieved for a given set of the process parameters, thus providing priorknowledge of part strength before actually making a SL part. The process model is able toshow the dependency of strength on process parameters, which is very useful informationfor machine designers as well as RP machine users.

激光固化快速成型制造中，支撑结构设计的优劣极大影响原型的制作精度。首先通过分析非水平下表面的分层制作过程，研究了其翘曲变形的机理。利用可仿真成型过程中层间力学行为的有限元计算模型，对层间悬臂量与翘曲变形量的关系进行了有限元计算仿真与试验验证。针对激光成型过程中零件需要支撑的非水平下表面，从激光固化快速成型制造中支撑结构的作用出发，以成型精度为设计目标，通过有限元计算仿真、试验验证等手段研究提出了针对零件中非水平下表面的支撑结构形式、布局及支撑间距等支撑设计规则。通过试验验证，按该规则对零件的非水平下表面进行支撑结构设计，可有效地保证激光固化快速成型的制作质量。

在分析角度-弦高联合准则法和包围盒法的工程适用特点的基础上，提出了同时基于角度-弦高简化法和包围盒法的改进型数据的直接精简方法，即利用包围盒法构造分割面，利用分割面将数据点云处理成 按扫描线存储的“结构化”测量数据，再利用角度-弦高联合准则法逐线精简。随后以铸造模板、汽车发动机罩及人头像为典型实例，分别对具有不同表面特征的测量数据点云进行了数据精简验证。结果表明，提出的方法同时具备2 种数据精简方法的优点，且克服了该2种方法无法处理曲率变化大、附加特征多的表面测量 数据的局限性，能够对测量数据进行直接而有效地简化，因此可以用于处理具有复杂附加特征的散乱测量数据。

通过分析STL 模型的几何特性和快速成型的工艺过程，建立了台阶效应、支撑面积和制作时间3 个目标的优化模型，并分别利用遗传算法进行了求解，建立了独立满意度;然后采用线性加权法建立了综合满意度函数，利用遗传算法求解，得到优化的制作方向。实验结果表明，该方法能够有效地解决快速成型中的制作方向优化问题。

This paper proposes a novel integrated system of rapid product development based on rapid prototyping, and develops anetworked manufacturing service system which offers better support for the rapid product development in small and mediumsized enterprises by taking full advantage of the quickly evolving computer network and information technologies. Thearchitecture of the networked manufacturing service system is presented. Furthermore, some of the key issues, includingmodelling and planning a manufacturing chain, selecting feasible collaborative manufacturers, queuing a manufacturing task,using the synchronously collaborative work environment, and constructing a suitable running platform, are described in detail.Java-enabled solution, together with web techniques, is employed for building such a networked service system. Finally, anactual example is provided illustrating the application of this service system.

Traditional processes for machining mould cavities are lengthy and costly. Electro-discharge machining (EDM) is the most commonlyused technique to obtain complex mould cavities. However, some electrodes are difficult to fabricate because of the complexity. Applyingrapid prototyping (RP) technology to fabricate an abrading tool which is used to abrade graphite EDM electrodes, the cost and cycle-time cangreatly be reduced. The paper describes the work being conducted in this area by the authors. This technique will find widespread applicationsin rapid steel mould manufacturing.

To reduce the time and cost of moulds fabrication, a novel integrated developing and manufacturing system of rapid tooling (RT) based on rapid prototyping (RP) is proposed. The architecture of system which consists of four building blocks: digital prototype, virtualprototype (VP), physicalprototype and RT system, is presented. A digitalprototype can be established by 3D CAD software packages or reveres engineering technique. A VP is employed to guide in optimization of the mould design and manufacturing process planning. A physical prototype, which is built using RP technology, generally serves as a pattern for producing RT. By integrating these building blocks closely, the system can aid effectively in mould design, analysis, prototyping, simulating, and manufacturing process development. Three typical cases are discussed in detail to illustrate the application of the system. It has been shown from a number of case studies that the system has a high potential to reduce further the cycle and cost of die development while minimizing error introduction. As a result, the integrated system provides a feasible and useful tool for companies to speed up their product development.

针对熔模铸造和快速原型制造本身对壳体原型件的需求，提出一种快速原型的抽壳简化方法，即利用零件的STL（STereolithography）模型及其分层信息，将零件原型的抽壳近似为沿分层方向的水平面偏置和层轮廓偏置，使得原型件的抽壳处理不受其形状复杂程度的影响，从而避开直接对sTL模型抽壳所遇到的障碍，极大地简化了零件原型的抽壳处理，提高了抽壳效率。工程实例表明该方法的正确性和实用性，缩短了零件原型制作时间，降低了成本。