A novel stereolithography technology with conventional UV light

Stereolithography (SL) is a kind of rapid prototyping technology which uses the laminate manufacturing to fabricate parts. With the development of RP, some new RP processes have boomed rapidly. Compact prototyping system (CPS) is a kind of novel stereolithography method which utilizes conventional UV light as the light source. After transmitting by optic fiber and focusing through lens set, the light is intensified and can be used to cure the photopolymer. Compared with the laser SL prototyping apparatus, this apparatus has unique characteristics on its driving system and light path system. Discusses the characteristics and corresponding consequences of the driving system and light path system, and analyzes the light energy distribution and the corresponding line shapes. Since each layer is constructed from a serial of lines, the scanning parameters, especially scanning speed and hatch gap, will influence the overall light intensity which determines the layer thickness, section shape and ultimately the prototyping accuracy. The driving system, due to the non-uniform moving speeds, could cause the shape error of the lines. A light shutter, keeping the light only illuminating on resin surface within given curing areas, is employed to solve this deficiency.