204
B. Suryatal et al.
were performed with 0.1 mm curing depth along Z-axis. For DMD-based SLA, the
maximum model size obtained with 0.1 mm minimum layer thickness in the available
literature was 60 mm × 80 mm [11]. Therefore, maximum exposure area of 55 mm
× 45 mm in our SLA shows the good agreement to build medium-sized parts. It
was observed that as the curing time decreases, the percentage error between the 3D
CAD model dimensions and build dimensions was also decreases. The maximum
and minimum percentage errors for hexagonal cross-section object were 9.43 and
2.0, respectively. The maximum and minimum percentage errors for pyramid object
were 4.5 and 1.77, respectively. The minimum percentage error was observed for
2 s curing time. The maximum percentage error between the CAD models and build
components dimensions is also below 10% which shows the good agreement with
the results available in the literature [10, 11]. Observed that the resolution of the build
components depends upon software imposed parameters like width compensation,
.STL file resolution, layer thickness, z compensation, and STL process parameters
like light beam size and intensity, light beam focus depth, and layer thickness [12].
The experimental test data for hexagonal cross-section and pyramid objects are given
in Table 1. The cured objects are shown in Figs. 3 and 4.
4 Conclusions
A low-cost stereolithography apparatus (SLA) was successfully developed to built
3D components. The trials were performed with different exposure time and settling
time. The exposure time was randomly varied from 10 to 1 s and it was observed
that the objects were best cured by 2 s curing time. The maximum and minimum
percentage errors observed were 9.43 and 1.77, respectively. The percentage error
was minimum for 2 s curing time. The pyramid object with maximum 120 numbers
of layers with 12 mm dimension along Z-axis was built in 11.0 min. The maximum
area 18 mm × 16 mm of pyramid object along X-Y plane was cured. The maximum
exposure area obtained in X-Y plane was 55 mm × 45 mm. The objects were built
with 0.1 mm curing depth due to limitations of the experimental setup. It is necessary
to perform the experiments with values lower than 0.1 mm curing depth so that
resolution of object along Z-axis will be improved.
B. Suryatal et al.
were performed with 0.1 mm curing depth along Z-axis. For DMD-based SLA, the
maximum model size obtained with 0.1 mm minimum layer thickness in the available
literature was 60 mm × 80 mm [11]. Therefore, maximum exposure area of 55 mm
× 45 mm in our SLA shows the good agreement to build medium-sized parts. It
was observed that as the curing time decreases, the percentage error between the 3D
CAD model dimensions and build dimensions was also decreases. The maximum
and minimum percentage errors for hexagonal cross-section object were 9.43 and
2.0, respectively. The maximum and minimum percentage errors for pyramid object
were 4.5 and 1.77, respectively. The minimum percentage error was observed for
2 s curing time. The maximum percentage error between the CAD models and build
components dimensions is also below 10% which shows the good agreement with
the results available in the literature [10, 11]. Observed that the resolution of the build
components depends upon software imposed parameters like width compensation,
.STL file resolution, layer thickness, z compensation, and STL process parameters
like light beam size and intensity, light beam focus depth, and layer thickness [12].
The experimental test data for hexagonal cross-section and pyramid objects are given
in Table 1. The cured objects are shown in Figs. 3 and 4.
4 Conclusions
A low-cost stereolithography apparatus (SLA) was successfully developed to built
3D components. The trials were performed with different exposure time and settling
time. The exposure time was randomly varied from 10 to 1 s and it was observed
that the objects were best cured by 2 s curing time. The maximum and minimum
percentage errors observed were 9.43 and 1.77, respectively. The percentage error
was minimum for 2 s curing time. The pyramid object with maximum 120 numbers
of layers with 12 mm dimension along Z-axis was built in 11.0 min. The maximum
area 18 mm × 16 mm of pyramid object along X-Y plane was cured. The maximum
exposure area obtained in X-Y plane was 55 mm × 45 mm. The objects were built
with 0.1 mm curing depth due to limitations of the experimental setup. It is necessary
to perform the experiments with values lower than 0.1 mm curing depth so that
resolution of object along Z-axis will be improved.