A Computational Design Framework for a Rapid Solid Freeform Fabrication Process
Abstract Solid Freeform Fabrication (SFF) techniques in recent years have shown tremendous promise in reducing the design time of products. This technique enables designers to get three-dimensional physical prototypes from 3D CAD models. Although SFF has gained popularity, the manufacturing time and cost have limited its use to small and medium sized parts. In this paper we have proposed a novel concept for rapidly building SFF parts by inserting prefabricated inserts into the fabricated part. A computational algorithm was developed for determining ideal placement of inserts/cores in the CAD model of the part being prototyped using a heuristic optimization technique called Simulated Annealing. This approach will also allow the designers to build multi-material prototypes using the Rapid Prototyping (RP) technique. By using cheaper pre-fabricates instead of costly photopolymers, the production cost of the SFFs can be reduced. Additionally it will also reduce build time, resulting in efficient machine utilization.