LASER SOLIDIFICATION PROCESS OF PHOTO-CURABLE MONOMERS

Ledges on the surface of a resin model made by the laser solidificatio n process limit its applications, a simulation method for the laser so lidification process of photo-curable monomers is proposed. The simula tion shows that suppression of the ledges is attainable by controlling the intensity and the incident direction of the laser beam. A method of modification of the solidification profiles is proposed also. The e ffectiveness of the simulation and the method of modification are conf irmed experimentally by the laser solidification process. A helium-cad mium laser and an acrylic monomer are used for the experiments, An acc uracy of greater than +/-0.05 mm is obtained for a sphere of diameter 10 mm. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.