Research & Development (R&D)
RAPITECH Solutions Inc., aims to disseminate the research and development work in the field of Additive Manufacturing Technologies.
Objectives
- To undertake and support Additive Manufacturing research projects.
- To disseminate knowledge on state-of the–art Additive Manufacturing technology through training courses, organising seminars, symposia and workshops.
- To network and tie up with best the Additive Manufacturing institutions/Organisations in the world to tap best ideas and transfer best practices from around the world.
- Interact and collaborate with international Additive Manufacturing institutions and organisations to pursue research projects.
R&D Projects
- Project Title : A Feasibility Study on Infrared Sintering of Polymers.
Duration : 10 Months (June 2004 –April 2005)
Project Team : L. Jyothish Kumar, Professor David Ian Wimpenny, Soumya Banerjee – Additive Manufacturing Technology Group (Formerly RPMG), De Montfort University, UK.
Funding Agency : European Union Funding, UK.
Description: The aim of the project was to study the feasibility of building single and multiple layers using different polymer powders with the use of infrared heating and also compare the strength of different polymer powders used in additive manufacturing process.
The selective Laser Sintering (SLS) process is used to produce 3D parts from CAD data in variety of materials including polymers, metals and ceramics. SLS of polymer parts has been shown to be a viable manufacturing route in some instances where production volumes are low and parts are small, for larger parts and volumes the process is slow and costly to compete with existing processes such as injection moulding or machining. This research addressed the issue of Rapid Manufacturing of parts with less time by using infrared heating.
The selective Laser Sintering (SLS) process is used to produce 3D parts from CAD data in variety of materials including polymers, metals and ceramics. SLS of polymer parts has been shown to be a viable manufacturing route in some instances where production volumes are low and parts are small, for larger parts and volumes the process is slow and costly to compete with existing processes such as injection moulding or machining. This research addressed the issue of Rapid Manufacturing of parts with less time by using infrared heating.
- Project Title : Feasibility Study on Stereolithography Apparatus (SLA) and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) Additive Manufacturing Technologies.
- Duration : 8 Months (Jan 2013 –August 2013)
- Guided by : L. Jyothish Kumar and Prof.Devadatta
- Description: The aim of the project was to study the feasibilities of SLA and SLS additive manufacturing technologies materials. Translucent and opaque resins of SLA and nylon powder material of SLS technology.
The SLA and SLS specimens were subjected various tests like tensile and compression tests on Universal Testing Machine and hardness testing was carried out on Brinell’s Hardness testing machine. The SEM Analysis was conducted to study the fractured surface of the models. Finally the stress distributions of the test specimens were analysed using ANSYS 13 WorkBench software.
- Project Title : Study on Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) process in different raster orientations.
- Duration :8 Months (Jan 2013 –August 2013)
- Guided by : L. Jyothish Kumar and Prof.Devdatta
- Description: Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) process uses heated thermoplastics filament which are extruded from the tip of nozzle in a prescribed manner in a temperature controlled environment for building the part through layer by layer deposition method. The tensile and compressive properties of the part built by FDM process using ABS material with four different orientations and tested to compare the mechanical properties. The bonding structures of the fractured surfaces are studies using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and stress concentration analysed using ANSYS 13Workbench software.
- Project Title : Rapid Product Development Using Reverse Engineering and Additive Manufacturing Processes.
- Duration :8 Months (Jan 2013 –August 2013)
- Guided by : L. Jyothish Kumar and Prof.Devdatta
- Description: The aim of the project was to study and understand Rapid Product Development using Reverse Engineering and Additive Manufacturing technologies.
The point cloud data collected by scanning an aerospace component through reverse engineering laser scanning process and converted in to 3D CAD data. 3D CAD model was then analysed using FEA software, ANSYS Workbench 14.0V. Later prototypes were built using different materials like translucent and opaque resins of SLA and nylon powder of SLS additive manufacturing technologies.