The integration of 3D digitizing and LCD panel display based rapid prototyping system for manufacturing automation

3D digitization is the process of developing a CAD model and a manufacturing database from an existing part. This process is appealing because it could be difficult to create models of complex objects using CAD software without the aid of a 3D digitizer. The 3D CAD models that are generated from the scanned data can be edited and modified in the CAD system. The 3D model can also be put in multimedia or animation software as a learning or assembly aid. Rapid prototyping is widely known as being able to fabricate 3D objects with complex geometric shapes. Rapid prototyping can shorten the product development cycle and improve the design process by providing rapid and effective feedback to the designer, thus helping a company to keep ahead in a rapidly changing market. In the application of concurrent engineering and reverse engineering, the integration of 3D digitization and rapid prototyping can greatly shorten the product development cycle time. The 3D CAD model from the 3D digitizer can be modified by CAD software and the prototype can be manufactured using rapid prototyping to save lots of time and money. In a 3D digitizing system, we use a 3D laser scanner - Modelmaker - which combines a manually-operated arm with 6 degrees of freedom, a stripe 3D laser scanner and a contact probe. This fast and flexible 3D digitizer can produce complex models. By using post-processing software and a CAD system, an STL file can be produced, so we can produce a physical part by using the rapid prototyping system. In addition, this paper presents software and hardware technologies to build an LCD panel display-based rapid prototyping system. Software design for the system includes a slicing algorithm, LCD photomask display process, user interface and motion control program. The hardware configuration of the architecture includes an LCD photomask, optical system, z-axis elevator, resin supply system and PC-based control system.