articles+ search results

RAPID tooling, BEARINGS (Machinery), GAS-lubricated bearings, ROTATIONAL motion, RAPID prototyping, and HYDRAULIC presses

• A new method of producing foil bearings was developed and tested. • A new application of MultiJet Printing technology is presented. • High accuracy of the bump foil geometry was obtained. • The developed method allows for a significant reduction in manufacturing costs. • The production of foil bearings does not require advanced mechanical processing. Foil bearings are aerodynamic gas bearings that are increasingly used in high-speed oil-free turbomachines, such as microturbines or turboexpanders. One of the barriers to the faster development of this type of bearings are production difficulties. This article discusses the consecutive stages in the development of a new method of manufacturing a bump foil – a key part of foil bearings. The three-dimensional (3D) printing technology called MultiJet Printing was used to make precise production tools. A new application of the chosen additive manufacturing technique made it possible to manufacture accurate forming tools, as described in the first part of the article. The forming tool allowed the bumps of the foil to be shaped without using a hydraulic or mechanical press. The next part of the article focuses on the experimental tests of the developed method. The tests were performed on three bump foils with different geometries. These tests were necessary to examine the repeatability of the shape of the bumps that were formed using the cold pressing. The results of the measurements are presented and discussed in the last part of the paper. Additionally, a numerical analysis was carried out and confirmed that all the steps of the plastic working process were performed correctly. The proposed method is very effective in forming foil bumps of practically any shape, with excellent accuracy and repeatability. The developed method allows for obtaining the desired shape of the bump foil in order to improve the static and dynamic properties of the foil bearing and the rotating system. In the near future, the proposed method can be considered for larger-scale production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PRODUCT design, PARTICIPATORY design, RAPID prototyping, DESIGN services, INFORMATION design, and MACHINE learning

Machine learning (ML) and design co-support the development of intelligent products, which makes ML an emerging technology that needs to be further understood in design practice. However, the unusual attributes of ML and the transformations in the prototyping process frequently prevent most designers from continuous innovation. Thus, we invited designers to work together in a participatory design process and then developed ML-Rapid, an easy-to-use and flexible ML prototyping toolkit. ML-Rapid helps designers to rapidly empower their physical prototype with ML by invoking simple code while exploring more design possibilities. A method of applying the toolkit within the design process was also proposed to promote meaningful innovation opportunities. We evaluated our work in a project called Design for Information Product. The evaluation results showed that designers who were new to ML programming increased their understanding of ML after participating in the project, and ML-Rapid lowered the barrier to ML for designers by allowing them to explore design possibilities throughout the main steps of the ML process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDENT projects, SOCIAL sciences education, RAPID prototyping, SOCIAL facts, SCIENCE students, and VISUALIZATION

Social science is witnessing tremendous growth of data available on the Internet regarding social phenomena; however, social science students are typically not prepared for managing the challenges and opportunities of analysing online data. One of the areas where this growth is especially important is in social studies of consumption. This article discusses a prototype of a visualisation tool intended to support the learning of netnographic analysis with computational tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RAPID prototyping, MANUFACTURING processes, BIOMEDICAL engineering, SURFACE roughness, LEAD time (Supply chain management), and NEW product development

Rapid prototyping (RP) is one of the most imperative advanced manufacturing techniques. RP has attracted attention in the prototyping community due to its capability of reducing the lead time of the product development. It has emerged as an alternative method to fabricate component. RP has recently shown a wide range of engineering as well as medical applications. However, dimensional accuracy, surface roughness and part strength of the component fabricated by RP technology are poorer compared to that of traditional manufacturing process. The main emphasis of authors in this research work is to describe the methodology adopted by researchers. The novelty of this work lies in the fact that it provides a systematic approach to enable potential for persons from industry as well academic users to select suitable process parameters for fabricating the component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PROJECT management, NEEDS assessment, CHARTS, diagrams, etc., and DYNAMIC models

In this work, based on the results obtained concerning the analysis and the needs of our project which concerns the design and development of an e-Learning project management system, we present the modeling stage with UML. Based on one hand, on two diagrams: class diagram and use case diagram, for static modeling and on the other hand, based on three diagrams: activity diagram, sequence diagram, diagram transition state for dynamic modeling. Finally, we offer examples of models for our project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TECHNOLOGICAL innovations, THREE-dimensional printing, RAPID prototyping, TECHNOLOGICAL forecasting, and SUPPLY chain management

In recent years, the Forecasting Innovation Pathway approach (FIP) has shown to be a promising set of tools to capture potential developments in emerging fields through capturing indications of endogenous futures. However, the FIP approach is reliant on a clear demarcated area to study, a challenge for emerging technology fields where uncertainty and rhetoric abound. This paper presents an addition to the FIP toolbox that helps characterise and demarcate boundaries of emerging fields to allow for deeper analysis through other FIP methods. We illustrate this approach through an exercise for 3D printing technology (also known as Additive Manufacturing). We show that 3D printing can be represented by a dominant design: a tri-partite configuration of printer, material and digital design software. In the past decade we have seen significant branching from applications in rapid-prototyping to medical, fashion, aeronautics and supply chain management with a variety of elements coming together in tri-partite configurations. The paper adds to the current FTA literature an approach building on evolutionary theories of technical change to help with such situations – emerging, evolving and branching 'innovation pathways'. Moreover, we developed a methodology to construct these innovation paths. • New technology fields can be represented as paths that build momentum, fork and evolve. • Forecasting Innovation Pathways (FIP) require a further developed theory of path emergence and evolution. • 3D printing can be represented by a dominant design: a tri-partite configuration that is filled in a variety of ways. • 3D printing is a field which evolved first around prototyping applications and has branched out to new applications. • The interplay of foreseen applications and the filling of the tri-partite schema motivate branching from rapid prototyping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although closed hollow obturator prostheses provide the benefit of minimized weight, they also pose challenges. They are complex to fabricate, and contaminated water can easily enter the hollow section through the joined part, making them unsanitary and leading to malodor and increased weight. The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate the hermeticity and durability of a hollow obturator model fabricated by using computer-aided design (CAD) and rapid prototyping (RP) techniques and to evaluate the possibility of its clinical use. Leak testing was used to evaluate the hermeticity and durability of hollow spherical obturator specimens with an outer diameter of 30 mm and 2 different wall thicknesses (1.5 and 2.0 mm). Six specimens were fabricated for each of the wall thicknesses by using CAD and RP techniques. The accumulation of fluids in the hollow obturator specimens was evaluated every day by using megascopic observation with photoirradiation from the base of the specimens. The amount of water absorption and the rate of increase in the weight of the 2 specimens were calculated and compared. Statistical analysis was performed by using the Mann-Whitney U test (α=.05). The application of CAD and RP techniques made it possible to fabricate a hollow obturator model specimen with completely unified parts. The 1.5-mm specimen showed an absorption rate (2.61%) that significantly exceeded that of the 2.0-mm specimen (2.53%) on day 130 (P =.006). By the end of the observation period, the 1.5-mm specimen exhibited large amounts of water absorption and destruction. The 1.5-mm-thick wall had reduced hermeticity than the 2.0-mm-thick wall. A fully unified hollow obturator model with 2.0-mm-thick walls was fabricated by using CAD and RP techniques. The absence of any joints prevented fluid accumulation, making this method suitable for the fabrication of hollow prostheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ORGANIC light emitting diodes, POLYMER light emitting diodes, COMPOSITE materials, SMART materials, PIEZOELECTRIC thin films, and RAPID prototyping

Over the past years, product designers have been involved in collaborative developments of smart material composites early on in the development process, to showcase creative applications of them. In these projects, the way the material is presented to the development team and the extent to which its properties are defined affect how designers understand the potentials and boundaries of the material and envision product applications. In the context of a European project, Light.Touch.Matters, we studied the attempt of designers to understand and prototype underdeveloped composites of thin-film organic light emitting diodes and piezoelectric polymer. Arguing for a collaborative exploration of the unique experiences that such underdeveloped composites unfold, we elaborate on a challenge designers face in understanding and prototyping the experiential qualities, specifically, the dynamic and performative qualities. The paper presents our design approach and complementary tools to overcome this challenge. It further discusses the applicability and limitations of the proposed design supports in the context of collaborative materials development and outlines future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AESTHETICS, COMPUTER software, COMPUTER-aided design, HAND abnormalities, TECHNOLOGY, THREE-dimensional imaging, and THREE-dimensional printing

In this study, ring orthosis design and manufacturing was performed by using rapid prototyping technology. Swan neck and boutonniere deformities may occur because of various reasons such as tendon injuries, sharp object injuries, or rheumatic diseases. Although the ring orthoses are the most commonly used conservative treatment method for swan neck and buttonhole deformities, they cannot be widely used because they are both difficult to produce and esthetically unsatisfied with the patients. In this study, it was aimed to manufacture with an orthosis design that is fully compatible, more esthetic, faster, and easily produced. 3D printing technologies are used in design and manufacturing. The 3D scanner is used in the measurement process, and the 3D printer is used in the manufacturing process. As a result of the study, a more esthetically pleasing and comfortable orthosis was made faster. As a result of the study, the thickness of the material should not be less than 5 mm. • More esthetic orthosis was produced. • A three-dimensional scanner was used for designing. • A three-dimensional printer was used in production. • Production required a very short time. • Production was inexpensive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]