Higher Order Construction Algorithm for Rapid Prototyping

To remain competitive in a global market, manufacturers are called upon to bring a variety of products to market with continually decreasing lead times and development costs. These commercial realities are a driving force demanding the development of improved rapid prototyping techniques. A rapid prototyping technique (RP) includes any automatic technique for producing a solid three dimensional object from a computer assisted drawing (CAD) representation of the object. This technology uses higher order algorithms for the construction of solid prototype parts derived from 3D CAD software-generated models.

Benefits
The paradigm currently used by most RP techniques has a limited range of applicability. Prototypes outside the range of 1-106 cubic centimeters lose accuracy or become expensive and time consuming to construct. This invention provides an RP system which avoids many of the limitations of existing systems. It expands the build volume of prototype parts though the use of higher order paradigms. It also provides a system, including machine components, capable of implementing software such as that of the microfiche appendix.

Stage of Development
A patent (US 5818718) has been issued from the US Patent and Trademark Office. This technology is seeking partners for development-manufacturing-sales-etc of the working-final-etc product. It is available for developmental research support/licensing under either exclusive or non-exclusive terms.

Additional Info
*http://www.mech.utah.edu/PEOPLE/faculty/thomas/

Inventor(s): Zetian Wang, Charles Thomas, Thomas Gaffney, Jien-Ping (Jim) Mu

Type of Offer: Licensing



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