Author(s)

Y.H. Zheng & R.S. Amano

Abstract

Uniform thermal distribution has a critical effect on prototyping accuracy in rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing. Any uneven thermal distribution in the work bed of the prototyping machine process chamber will result in product distortion. In order to get the best thermal distribution on the work bed, what kind of machine process chamber (PC) shape do we need to design? Do we need to insulate the process chamber wall? What are the effects of process chamber shape and wall insulation for a free convection flow pattern inside the process chamber? What’s the relationship between the thermal distribution and convection flow? In this study we have utilized CFD to develop fundamental understanding of thermal distribution and characteristic in the process chamber with the effe

Keywords