Abstract: A method of constructing surface element layers for improving boundary shape of a hexahedral mesh used in finite element analysis comprises constructing a core mesh by superimposing a regular grid on a region to be meshed and removing external elements and external nodes of the region to be meshed; amending the core mesh to have a boundary shape similar to that of the region to be meshed by repositioning nodes on the boundary of the core mesh; constructing imaginary thin surface element layers on a boundary surface of the amended core mesh; and performing a mesh smoothing on the imaginary thin surface element layers.

Abstract: A rapid prototyping process and apparatus that provides an intermittent material feed type variable-lamination rapid prototyping using a linear thermal cutting system, wherein intermittently fed materials are cut to have variable lengths, widths, and lateral gradients with the 4-axis control-type linear thermal cutting system controlled by a computer, and based on cutting operation data generated in the computer.

Abstract: To enhance accuracy of the size and the shape of manufactures, and to shorten the time of operation, there is provided a method for manufacturing a 3D model comprising steps of designing the 3D model and collecting shape data of the 3D model slicing the 3D model into several layers in height, dividing each of the layers into several sublayers so that a sublayer is formed by depositing a material at once, depositing a material in accordance with shape data in relation to a sublayer divided from one layer of the 3D model, and deciding whether the one layer of the 3D model has been completed. The method is conducted using computer-aided design and computer aided manufacturing system including a variable deposition manufacturing apparatus.

Abstract: A hexahedral finite element modeling method for controlling an element size, comprising the steps of: dividing a first face of a hexahedral finite element into four uniform sections, and dividing a second face diagonally opposite to the first face into sixteen uniform sections, thus modeling the hexahedral element into a face-refined transition unit mesh module; dividing a first edge of the hexahedral finite element having two meshed faces of the face-refined transition unit mesh module in common into two uniform sections, and dividing a second edge diagonally opposite to the first edge into four uniform sections, thus modeling the hexahedral element into a face-refined transition unit mesh module; and dividing each of three faces of the hexahedral finite element, having three meshed faces of the edge-refined transition unit mesh module in common and meeting each other at a first node, into four uniform sections, and partially dividing each of other three faces, meeting each other at a second node diagonally

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a variable lamination manufacturing process and apparatus. The method comprises the step of coating strip-shaped material with an adhesive while the strip-shaped material is fed. Thereafter, the strip-shaped material being fed is cut into material pieces of a variable width, variable inclinations and a variable length in accordance with the three-dimensional computer aided design data of a three-dimensional product using a linear heat source. The cut material pieces are stacked on a moving table to be positioned in the corresponding positions of the three-dimensional product. Finally, the stacked cut material pieces are pushed to bond one piece to anther.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, which infiltrates super-heated material between preheated powder particles and therefore minimizes heat deformation and increases measurement accuracy. A rapid prototyping apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises powder material spreading means 10, dispensing infiltration material means 20, laser beam scanning means 30, and control means. The powder material spreading means spread out powders 61 on the surface of platform 52 uniformly while moving along the X axis. The powders are the main material of desired products. The dispensing infiltration material means dispense infiltration materials 63 while moving along three axes and the super-heated infiltration materials 64 by laser beam 43 are infiltrated between the powders selectively. The laser beam scanning means preheat the powders by laser beam 42 within the melting point of the powders and super-heat the infiltration material by laser beam 43.