We have some photos online now! See what parts we have made with our DPS Technology.

Exciting news! We are starting our Beta Test program. To learn more about it contact Susanna Ventura or Philippe Guérit.

Concept

irect Photo Shaping is a new multi-layer fabrication process developed at SRI International for fabrication of ceramic, metal, or polymer components. The process is based on the layer-by-layer photocuring of polymerizable compositions curable by visible light. Each layer is selectively photo-imaged by digital light projection via a Digital Micromirror Device (DMD™) array, which uses more than 500,000 microscopic mirrors. At speeds greater than 1,000 times per second, the mirrors are electronically tilted and the light is digitally reflected on the photocurable slurry, thus performing the function of an electronic maskless tool. The unique use of visible light in our process allows the photocuring of highly filled suspensions of ceramics with high refractive index, such as silicon nitride.

Principle

The Direct Photo Shaping (DPS) machine is based on the following principle.

A leveler (same type as a doctor blade) levels on a movable platform a film of photopolymerizable slurry. The slurry is dispense through three holes located in front of the leveler. After a short delay, the exposed slurry is photocured. Later the platform goes down and the cycle restart.

Images

So far two DPS prototypes have been build in our labs and a third one (with multi-materials capabilities) is in development.
The following picture is from the second DPS prototype (it has been upgrade since that picture was taken).
 

Overall view of the DPS machine.

We also have images of parts made with our technology.

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Related Informations:

• Link(s):
For more information on (DLP™) and (DMD™) technology, see http://www.dlp.com/dlp/

• Publication(s):
S.C.Ventura et al., "Direct Photo Shaping-A New SFF Process for Ceramic Components," Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Rapid Prototyping, pp. 271-278, 1997
S.C.Ventura et al., "Freeform Fabrication of Functional Silicon Nitride Components by Direct Photo Shaping" MRS Symposium Proceedings - Volume 625 - "Solid Freeform and Additive Fabrication - 2000" pp. 81-89.