Start Date
8-5-2024 3:00 PM
End Date
8-5-2024 2:45 PM
Document Type
Full Paper
Keywords
Resolution, 3D printer, FDM, S-CVT’s, Curved Layer Manufacturing
Description
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), a subset of Additive Manufacturing (AM), excels in affordable, rapid 3D printing but struggles with curved geometries due to its inherent planar layered printing methodology. Curved-layer Manufacturing (CLM) addresses this by depositing materials following the part’s local curvature rather than confining them to horizontal planes. However, its reliance on expensive robotic manipulators due to the complex actuators and custom components limits its accessibility for low-volume FDM (e.g., educational, household). Addressing the cost barrier, researchers turned to more affordable actuators such as stepper motors for these manipulators, which leads to a heterogeneous resolution (varied resolution across workspace). To solve this issue, a new Prismatic-RevoluteRevolute (PRR) manipulator for FDM, combining Spherical Continuously Variable Transmissions (S-CVTs) at each joint, eliminates the necessity for expensive actuators while maintaining high-resolution printing, thereby solving the resolution and affordability problem. Unlike traditional gearboxes with fixed ratios, S-CVTs can adjust their transmission ratio continuously, allowing precise control of the manipulator’s joints’ angular velocity. The proposed manipulator significantly enhances the resolution of a stepper motor (1 micro-step) by a factor of 57 in simulation-based observation. It provides a practical solution for producing high-quality, curved surfaces in FDM, ideal for low-volume settings.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5038/COHB2916
Expanding Accessibility: Improved Resolution Printing with S-CVT-Based PRR Manipulator
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), a subset of Additive Manufacturing (AM), excels in affordable, rapid 3D printing but struggles with curved geometries due to its inherent planar layered printing methodology. Curved-layer Manufacturing (CLM) addresses this by depositing materials following the part’s local curvature rather than confining them to horizontal planes. However, its reliance on expensive robotic manipulators due to the complex actuators and custom components limits its accessibility for low-volume FDM (e.g., educational, household). Addressing the cost barrier, researchers turned to more affordable actuators such as stepper motors for these manipulators, which leads to a heterogeneous resolution (varied resolution across workspace). To solve this issue, a new Prismatic-RevoluteRevolute (PRR) manipulator for FDM, combining Spherical Continuously Variable Transmissions (S-CVTs) at each joint, eliminates the necessity for expensive actuators while maintaining high-resolution printing, thereby solving the resolution and affordability problem. Unlike traditional gearboxes with fixed ratios, S-CVTs can adjust their transmission ratio continuously, allowing precise control of the manipulator’s joints’ angular velocity. The proposed manipulator significantly enhances the resolution of a stepper motor (1 micro-step) by a factor of 57 in simulation-based observation. It provides a practical solution for producing high-quality, curved surfaces in FDM, ideal for low-volume settings.