PROPOSAL OF A 3-D STEREOLITHOGRAPHY SYSTEM INCORPORATING MAGNETIC LEVITATION TECHNIQUE

Abstract

This paper proposes a novel stereolithography (SLA) system for forming designed models by photocuring and stacking magnetically levitated special fluid. A drawback of stereolithography, one of the 3-dimensional printing techniques, is the post-processing of burrs and wasted support materials. The proposed method repeats photocuring while magnetically levitating magnetic photocurable resin (mPCR) fluid. Therefore, burrs and support materials are unnecessary, saving both time and money. The system has two main structural requirements; one is to generate an upward attractive force so that the mPCR fluid and its formed object do not droop under gravity, and the other is to irradiate the laser beam while reliably tracking the apex of the mPCR fluid cone that is magnetically supported and manipulated. This paper briefly introduces the prototype machine, designed to align a laser beam path, the controlled electromagnet with a through-hole, and the apex of magnetically levitated mPCR fluid.