Abstract: A method of treating the surface of a rough, plastic object to produce a high gloss, textured and/or coloured finish. A rapid prototype treated according to the present method assumes the appearance of an injection molded part, without the usual high costs associated with producing the injection mold. In one embodiment, first step involves of removing the pores in the porous part, at least at the outer layers of the part, followed by a smoothening process of filling the voids between the miniature steps with a hardener to give a smooth surface, on which further post-processing may be performed.

Abstract: An error reduction and accommodation method and system can be used in an automated assembly environment. This method and system use a simple localized calibration process devised to improve similarity between an actual device and a simulated model when an off-line programming technique is used. The system uses grid-hole tables with modular fixtures holding the workpieces. The grid-hole table has round holes instead of screw holes or T-slots and allows modular fixtures with round pins to be placed on the grid-hole table with greater precision. A compliant coupling which is able to accommodate any small error in the system and when used with any end-tool, allows the assembly robot to carry out tasks within the modular system. The use of the grid-hole table and modular fixtures allows the robot, once taught the grid-hole table and the modular fixtures, to be subsequently programmed off-line to carry out any tasks with any standardized modular fixture placed any where on the grid-hole table.