A dexel‐based virtual prototyping system for product development

Abstract

This paper proposes a dexel-based virtual prototyping system, which builds a virtual prototype with dexels or rectangular strips of solid. The approach resembles the physical fabrication process of most powder-based rapid prototyping (RP) systems. It simulates an RP process to create a virtual prototype. Colour virtual prototypes may also be fabricated relatively easily. Thus, the designer can perform design validation and accuracy analysis easily in a virtual environment as if using a physical prototype. In addition to numeric quantification of the RP process, the system provides vivid visualisations of the prototype for studying its characteristics. Furthermore, the prototype may be superimposed on the product model, and the areas with dimensional errors beyond design limits may be clearly highlighted for subsequent improvement. The designer may thus analyse and compare the surface texture point-by-point of the prototype with the product design.

Modeling and Simulation in Engineering

“…A suite of algorithms for LM process planning, such as slicing, choice of build-direction, model orientation and layer thickness, generation of sequential and concurrent multitoolpaths, and build-time estimation, are incorporated in the proposed VP system. The details of these algorithms have been presented in (Choi & Samavedam, 2001Choi & Chan, 2002;Choi & Kwok, 2002Choi & Cheung, 2005a, 2005b. This chapter focuses on the development of the VR system.…”

A multi-material virtual prototyping system

“…In particular, slice contours with established hierarchy relationship facilitate collision detection, as well as the optimisation of toolpath by avoiding redundant back-and-forth movements. The virtual simulation system uses a dexel-based approach for digital fabrication of physical prototypes (Choi and Chan, 2002;Choi and Samavedam, 2001). The workflow of the proposed system includes multi-colour STL model design, slicing multi-material objects, sorting complex slice contours, generation of multitoolpath, and digital fabrication of multi-material prototypes.…”

Virtual Prototyping for Rapid Product Development

“…A suite of algorithms for LM process planning, such as slicing, choice of build-direction, model orientation and layer thickness, generation of sequential and concurrent multitoolpaths, and build-time estimation, are incorporated in the proposed VP system. The details of these algorithms have been presented in (Choi & Samavedam, 2001& 2003Choi & Chan, 2002;Choi & Kwok, 2002Choi & Cheung, 2005a, 2005b, 2006& 2007. This chapter focuses on the development of the VR system.…”