What you are describing is "Stero Lithography" (STL) and it is used in
industry
for 'rapid prototyping' for such items as perfume bottles, AMD uses it for
connectors, and NASA uses it for making 3D concept models for discussion
and display. It has been used in a process called 'lost wax' molding
using the STL model instead of a wax part. The STL component is coated
with a ceramic slurry and allowed to dry. It is then fired in a furnace
to remove the plastic and then metal is injected into the cramic mold.
The STL process uses liwquid plastics that harden under the light of the
laser. Currently, the technology is limited in size, you can probably do
a stab half but not a lot bigger. And, it is ususlly used to make
'positive' parts, not molds. The plastic is not very useful for laying up
any useful parts. And, the accuracy is not all that great, the plastics
seem to sag if unsupported.
.........bc ([EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.widomaker.com/~conk
Williamsburg, VA 23185
On Thu, 10 Jan 2002 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> Several years ago I heard of some mold technology that had something to do
> with focusing a laser on a vat of liquid, which would cause the mold to
> solidify. Apparently, you would then remove your mold from the bath and
> voila! Must've been some kind of plastic or something, so I don't know how
> durable they'd be, even if they do exist. Anybody else heard of that? I can't
> wait until the time when you design your plane on your computer, push a
> button and it appears, RTF. (Well, besides typing in your credit card number
> and waiting a little bit...)
>
> Bill Wingstedt
>
> RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and
>"unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and
"unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
