Don  Lancaster's Guru's Lair  Santa Claus Machine Library
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Update in process: You can still click here to reach the older
original Santa Claus library page.

Santa Claus Machines are "printers" that print real objects
instead of messages. They are also sometimes known as
Rapid Prototyping Systems. Although still somewhat new
and primitive, Santa Claus machines are poised to totally
revolutionize how all products are made and distributed.

The term comes from such science fiction sources as Warren
Ellis Transmetropolitan where a magic machine could produce
anything from a new girlfriend to a roast beef sandwich. At present,
you can do the sandwiches. They are even low in calories and fat free.
But they often leave a distinct acrylic aftertaste. And you'll have to
watch the gain and polarity ~very~ carefully when replicating girlfriends.

Note that "rapid prototyping" also denotes a system of software
testing and is a totally unrelated field. One not referenced here.

Areas of current Santa Claus Machine interest include...

• Stereolithography
  
• Fused Deposition Modeling
  
• Selective Laser Sintering
• Layered Object Manufacturing
• 3-D Inkjet Printing
• Conventional Table Top CAD/CAM
  

Along with these additional resources...

• Tutorials 
• Link Farms
  
• Prototyping Houses
  
• Books and periodicals
• Associations & Newsletters
• Consulting Help
  

Some library files require an Adobe Acrobat 5.0  plug in for online
viewing.  Offline, these may be accessed by an Acrobat Reader or
an eBook Reader or any other .PDF accepting program.

       We can start off with these link farms and reprint archives...

Superb RP Link Farm from the University of Utah       Your "must do" starting point for everything involving Santa Claus      machines. Systems, modlers, resellers, consultants, academia, pubs,      biometicals, art, software, associations, and much more.

Click to reach the Magic Sinewave library.
Click for a Magic Sinewave development proposal.


Rapid Prototyping  Reader's Digest         Immediate access to several hundred key papers on rapid        prototyping. Intros, visualation, technology, medicine, tooling,        art, suppliers, bunches more. From Castle Island.

Click to reach our Blatant Opportunist library.
Click to reach our PostScript library.


Rapid Prototyping Searchable Bibliography       Called "the Mother of all bibliographies of Rapid Prototyping       articles. Over 4700 searchible citations from 1984 to the present.       Doe not include actual articles. From Castle Island.

Click here for Don's Gonzo PostScript Utilities.
Click here for Don's PostScript Beginner Stuff.


Useful Resources from the Rapid Prototyping Net       Consists of a live chat group, article reprints, news, case studies,       and an extensive and color coded set of manufacturer's links.       The current news section seems out of date.

Click to reach the Tech Musings library.
Click to reach our GuruGram library.

RP Tutorials from Rutgers University      Nice summary tutorials and figures of available RP machines      combined with brief tutorials of FRM, LOM, SLS, and SLA.      Includes useful but older product comparison chart.

Click here for Surplus Bargain info.
Click to reach the Tech Musings library.

RP Resources from  Carnegie-Mellon University       A nice link farm and bibliography of both mainstream and unusual       rapid prototyping systems and products. Focusing on Rapid Design       and Manufacturing Resources on the Web.

Click here for PostScript tutorials.
Click here for Live Auction bargains.


Here's an older and somewhat dated tutorial of mine...

Hardware Hacker #77 HACK77.PDF (June 1994 )       Thermodynamic Second Law violations. Soliton waves, references,       and resources. Superb CD ROM directory. Santa Claus machines        review and update. Some hacker opportunities.

Click here for PIC Microprocessor Books info.
Click here for Circuit Cellar reprints.

Stereo Lithography Santa Claus machines are among the oldest
and earliest. They use an ultraviolet laser to selectively harden
a liquid photopolymer or a UV curable epoxy.

In a typical system, the laser draws a hardening pattern on the
surface of a suitable liquid. Fresh liquid is added and the process
continues until the entire part is complete. Parts are then further
hardened and post-processed.

Stereolithography Machines from  3D Systems      Both the originator and leading supplier of sterelithography      rapid prototyping machinery, materials, services, and parts. Also      manufacturers SLS and similar technologies.

Click to reach the Flutterwumper library page.
Click here for Instant Consulting solutions.


SLA Equipment Supplier Aaroflex       A competing manufacturer to 3D systems. Their high end       systems include the AAROFLEX Solid Imager, a machine      which creates three-dimensional physical models .

Click here for banner ad  info.
Click here for a partnering opportunity.

Stereolithography Materials Supplier DSM Somos       Leading source for photopolymer liquids for SLA. Their       new Somos 9100 offers exceptional properties. Nine other       SLA materials products are offered, including polypropylene.

Click to reach the Resource Bin library.
Click for our Bitmaps & Fonts library.


Another SLA Materials Supplier Renshape      Souce of Renshape Stereolithography materials. Includes      over fifty products optimized for productivity, accuracy,      temperature, colorability, and plastics emulations.

Click to reach the Magic Sinewave library.
Click for a Magic Sinewave development proposal.


Stereolithography Tutorial from UC Berkeley       Nice and brief summary of SLA process. Related pages include basic      info, production, geometry, design guides, sample parts, materials      use, pros/cons, variations, theory, links, more...

Click here for Test Equipment Bargains info.
Click here to visit the GuruGram library.

Medical Stereolithography Apps at Spectra Group      SGL uses stereolithography to make 3-D medical models based     on CAT scan and MRI data. For surgical planning, prosthesis     design and as teaching aids.

Click here for Acrobat tutorials.
Click here for Live Auction bargains

SLS Santa Claus machines start with a powder and use a laser to
melt just enough of the powder particle surfaces to fuse them into
a solid mass. Other variations start with a metal powder having
fusible coatings on them.

Plastic, wax, and metal parts are possible, as is high durability.

http://www.3dsystems.com/

FDM Santa Claus machines are also known as the "glue gun"
method. A filament of thermoplastic is laid down in a programmable
manner from a carefully controlled heated orfice.

Parts are characteristically rugged but of limited precision. Hollow
items are easily done with this "coiled rope" technology.

A homebrew variation on these could simply use a glue gun on
an X-Y drive stepper rate control fed with polyetheleyne rod.
Ideal products would be large sign lettering that could make use
of Flutterwumper techniques. Especially font availability.

http://www.stratasys.com/

http://www.ammagazine.com/CDA/ArticleInformation/features/BNP__Features__Item/0,2606,64202,00.html nice tutorial

http://www.pliantplastics.com/RapidPro.htm service bureau

http://www.efunda.com/processes/rapid_prototyping/fdm.cfm eng tutorials all rp

hthttp://www.padtinc.com/rm/fdm/default.htm proto house and photos

tp://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~sequin/CAFFE/cyberbuild.html tutorial

LOM Santa Claus machines are made up of layers of paper.
A piece of paper is glued to the previous stack and then the
part outline is cut with a laser.

You end up with a wooden-like part inside a wooden block. When
you remove the block, the part is released.

http://www.cubictechnologies.com/ helisys

http://www.amdnet.com/prototypes/laminated_object.shtml development house

http://www.milparts.net/lom.html nice tutorial

http://www.enae.umd.edu/ASC/abstracts/abs108.pdf technical paper on parameter optimization

Inkjet Santa Claus machines are coming on strong as a
newer and potentially low cost alternative. Typically, one
inkjet will spray a thermoplastic while a second sprays wax.
A flat milling process follows each layer till buildup is complete.

An alternate method lays down powder and then uses an inkjet
delivered binder to bond the parts. This offers full colors.

A third method is called PolyJet in which the inkjet prints a
photopolymer which is immediately UV cured. This process
seems to offer exceptional accuracy and precision.

The process can be used to make lost wax castings, fancier
molds, or for limited use proof-of-concept models. These are
also known as 3-D printers or Three Dimensional Printers.

Rapid Prototyping Systems from  SolidScape        Manufacturers of the T66 and Modelmaker inkjet based        machines and companion PatternMaster software. The        T66 is under $50K and truly desktop.

Click to reach the Resource Bin library.
Click here for our Auction Help library.


Full Color RP Systems from Z Corp        Uses the inkjet-hardens-powder method in their Z310,        Z406, and Z810 systems. Materials are typically starch or        plaster based. A related Z-Cast system makes metal parts.

Click to reach the Math Stuff library.
Click here for our live eBay auctions.

PolyJet: Developed by Objet Geometries, the PolyJet technology was commercially released in 2001, when it was best known by the names of the specific equipment incorporating the technology — Quadra and QuadraTempo.

BPM Technology Inc.


1200 Woodruff Rd., A-19


Greenville, SC 29607


(864) 297-7700


Fax (864) 297-7711 inkjet variation no website

Hardware Hacker #66  HACK66.PDF  (July 1993 )       A flying car newsletter. Photopolymer resources. Amateur       television books. Royalty free real PostScript. The Basic Stamp       from Parallax. Thoughts on a printed circuit drill. Two contests.

Click to reach our Hardware Hacker library.
Click to reach our Patent Avoidance library.


Resource Bin #07 RESBN07.PDF (August 1992)      A look at Unique Opportunities in Auto Electronics. Starting with      the obvious. TCS & SCS valves. Abusing car alternators      for fun and profit. Books & trade journals. Junkyard dog contest.

More alternator-to-stepper info in HACK44.PDF.
And a nice conversion video is in HACK69.PDF.

These are simply smaller (and often fully automated) versions of
traditional machine tools. Tiny enough to literally fit a desktop.

Web information center from  Desktop CNC       Survey site and link farm covers smaller milling machines,      lathes, routers and others. Special areas for newsgroup      postings, educational market systems, bunches more...

Click to reach our Hardware Hacker library.
Click to reach our Patent Avoidance library.


Mini-Mill/Pro


Model: DMS-PRO


Price: $12,500.00


http://www-rpl.stanford.edu/mech293/announcement.htm

http://www.soligen.com/articles/patternless/patternless.shtml

http://www.geocities.com/j_monty_2001/rprototyping.html

his information and more can be found at Stratasys.com. fdm

http://www.wspc.com/books/engineering/etextbook/5064/5064_preface.pdf

Mi

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CAD/CAM Desktop Manufacturing Systems

Hardware

Minitech Machinery manufacturers several CNC machines used for making

parts designed in Rhinoceros CAD. Minitech has 3 and 4-axis CNC milling

machines for making jewelry, medical devices, printed circuit boards and

many other industrial applications, as well as educational, and prototyping

uses.

Customers prefer Minitech for our superior quality and total commitment

to our customers.

Minitech's machines have been proudly made in the USA since 1983.

More...

Contact:

Jack Heald, Minitech Machinery Corp.

Phone: 800-662-1760, 770-441-8525

Fax: 770-441-8526

cromodeler, a PC-based milling machine; computerized benchtop lathes;

Mini-Mill, a precision three-axis machine; second generation CNC miniature lathe; CNC milling machine with 0.0002-in. position accuracy.

Prototyping houses are essentially service bureaus who have
bought Santa Claus machines from primary suppliers and use
them to create models and preproduction mockups for you.

Master RP Service Bureau Directory by Castle Island       Extensive world-wide directory of Rapid Prototyping service bureaus       and development services arranged by state and country. Also splits       out which Santa Claus technologies are in use.

Click here for Don's Resource Bin columns.
Click here to sponsor an Ad Banner.

There are apparently many thousands of rapid protoyping houses.
Here is a random selection of some higher profile resources...

Your own action figures from ToyBuilders      These folks have all five major Santa Claus technology     systems in house and specialize in such items as game     pieces, toys, awards, and incentives.

Click here for the Adobe Acrobat library.
Click here to visit the GuruGram library.

Prototyping House: Quick Parts        Low-volume custom-manufactured plastic and metal parts, built        to your specs. Available RP technologies include SLA, SLS, FDM,        plus conventional cast urethane and quick turn injection molding.

Click to reach the Tech Musings library.
Click here for Induction Heating book access.

Prototyping House: Laser Repro         Useful source for concept designs, rapid prototyping, urethane        reproductions, and final manuracturing. Primarily stereolithography.        Also as newsletter and free online videos available.

Click to reach the Guru's Lair library.
Click for the Worst of Marcia Swampfelder.

Prototyping House: DTP Fast        Design prototyping technologies outfit provides instant quotes       for Sterelithography (SLA), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), 3D       Printing, Urethane Casting and Rapid Investment Casting.

Click here for water soluble swimsuit info.
Click here to view our eBay live auctions.

http://www.vistatek.com/stereo.html

Vista Technologies - Stereolithography







Turning CAD files into tangible 3-D objects, overnight.







Stereolithography, or SLA, creates a tangible 3-D object, or physical model,


from a CAD drawing by directing ultraviolet laser radiation onto a vat of


polymer resin (liquid plastic). After being cured in an ultraviolet oven, each


piece is then hand-polished and finished to specifications (this includes


anything from a rough-edged model to a glossy, painted real-life replica -


depending on your needs).











The end product is an exact physical model, or prototype, of the 3-D drawing


- giving designers, engineers, manufacturers, sales managers, marketing


directors, and prospective customers the opportunity to handle the new


product, or prototype. In this way, design iterations can be made quickly and


inexpensively, guaranteeing companies the best product possible, in the


shortest time possible.





Rapid prototyping, stereolithography, and rapid model making technologies


are changing the face of business.





* Save Money - Adding rapid prototypes, or physical models, to your process


will greatly reduce design iteration, production, & tooling costs. Having a


tangible model, or physical prototype, at the time of quotes also greatly


improves a quote's accuracy.





* Save Time - Turn an idea into a prototype overnight with rapid prototyping,


or stereolithography. What previously took months now takes only hours, so


that finding errors, making design improvements, and analyzing end product


is possible without impacting your time-to-market.





* Test Product - Use this physical model, or prototype, in focus groups,


compare with other parts for compatibility, and conduct performance tests


effeciently and quickly using our rapid prototyping, or stereolithography.





* Catch Errors - Save thousands of dollars by discovering costly errors


before the product goes into production with the help of a quality prototype,


or physical model.











* Improve Design - The efficiency and cost-effectiveness of a prototype


allows you to create an inexpensive physical and tangible model for design


evaluation, form, fit and function studies.





* Sell Product - Add impact to a proposal with a tangible, physical model.


Prototypes, built through rapid prototyping and stereolithography, also allow


your sales team to pitch new products before they're manufactured.





* Rapid Manufacturing - Stereolithography can be used for small-run items


and RTV molding. It can also be used for casting, to include investment


casting, sand casting and die casting. It is also a hands-on way for


companies to further product development.







Vista Technologies LLC


4457 White Bear Parkway


White Bear Lake, MN 55110


voice (651) 653-0400


fax (651) 653-0900


e-mail prototype@vistatek.com

http://www.3dguys.com/sla/index.shtml

http://www.ptcam.com/

, Cubital America Inc, Helisys Inc, DTM Corp, Light Sculpting Inc and Stratasys Inc.

Laminated object manufacturing (LOM) has been successfully demonstrated in the manufacture of advanced structural ceramics. Using a modified LOM machine (model LOM-1015, Helisys, Inc.),

ThermoJet® Solid Object Printer from 3D Systems

3D SYSTEMS AND SENSABLE TECHNOLOGIES MOVE STEP CLOSER TO "DESKTOP MANUFACTURING"


http://www.minitech.com/

CNC Mini-Mill/PRO

http://www.rpmi.marc.gatech.edu/libraries/v-library.html

Minitech Machinery Corporation


Desktop Manufacturing System


http://www.padtinc.com/rm/sla/default.htm protohouse

scrap....

Click here to visit the GuruGram library

Books:

Note that "Rapid Prototyping" also denotes a software
methodology largely unrelated to Santa Claus machines.
Those titles are not included here.

Direct Write Technologies for Rapid Prototyping ( Douglas B. Chrisey ) Electroactive Polymers for Rapid Prototyping   ( Yoseph Bar-Cohen) Fab (Neil Gershenfield) Handbook of Rapid Prototyping & Layered Manufacturing  ( L.Leu ) Laser-Induced Materials & Processes for Rapid Prototyping ( J. Fuh ) Rapid Manufacturing : The Technologies and Applications...  ( S. Dimov, ) Rapid Prototyping ( Andreas Gebhardt ) Rapid Prototyping & Flexible Manufacturing ( Rolf-Juergen Ahlers ) Rapid Prototyping Directory 1995 ( Cad/Cam Pubs ) Rapid Prototyping : Fundamentals of Stereolithography ( Paul Jacobs ) Rapid Prototyping of materials ( Dawn Herlocher ) Rapid Prototyping: Principles & Applications ( Chua Kai ) Rapid Prototyping Systems ( SME Association ) Rapid Prototyping Solutions ( Steve Upcraft ) Rapid Prototyping Technology ( Kenneth G. Cooper ) Solid Freeform Manufacturing: Advan.. ( D. Cochan ) Stereolithography & Other RP&M Technologies ( Paul Jacobs )

Click here for another Santa Claus book list.


Print & Web Periodicals:

Trade Journal: Time Compression Technologies       Covers most aspects of Santa Claus machines, and other       fast development issues. Also does directories and conferences.

Click here for their superb Supplier Index .


Online Information Resource CAD/CAM Net       Includes web based coverage for the Rapid Prototyping Report       and Computer Aided Design Newsletters. Fee based.

Click to reach the Tech Musings library.


UK Scholarly Pub: Rapid Prototyping Journal       British published scholarly journal. Free abstracts of nine       quarterly volumes since 1995. Published by Emerald.

Click to reach the PIC Microprocessor library.


Design Resource: International Journal of CAD/CAM      Publication of research results in CAD/CAM with emphasis       on the technology applications. Both industrial and academic.

Click here to sponsor an Ad Banner.

Extensive RP Coverage by Castle Island    Worldwide Guide to Rapid Prototyping. Includes bibliography,     patents, links, service bureaurs, directories, much more...

Military Surplus via our Auction Help page.


Trade Journal: Machine Design       The best general trade journal for mechanical design and product       development. Occasionally covers RP and CAD/CAM topics,

Click to reach the Resource Bin library.


Trade Journal: Design News       Another general trade journal for mechanical design and product       development. Occasionally covers RP and CAD/CAM topics,

Click for Custom Research solutions.

RP group in the Society of Manufacturing Engineers        Focuses on the technologies and processes that help conceive,       develop, test, revise, and manufacture new products .

Click for Custom Research solutions.

Complete Archive from Rapid Prototyping Mailing List       Archive sponsored by Castle Island. Actual mailing list is maintained       by Helsinki University of Technology.

Click here to view our eBay live auctions.

Online RP Live Chat Group via Rapid Prototyping Net       Network also offers color coded manufacturing links and much       more. See their listing in the SLA section.

Click to reach our Blatant Opportunist library.


Stereolithography users group from 3D Systems      Active user's group specifically targets stereolithography issues.      See their listing in the SLA section.

Click to reach our GuruGram library.


Selective Laser Sintering users group from 3D Systems       Lots of great robotics theory and practice, along with bunches       See their listing in the SLS section.

Click here for Circuit Cellar reprints.


Usenet newsgroups seem a little lean when it comes to rapid prototyping.
Here are a few possibilities...

alt.machines alt.machines.cnc alt.machines.misc sci.polymers

    Other Guru's Lair library pages of interest include Tech
    Musings, Hardware Hacker, Blatant Opportunist, Don's
    Resource Bin, Math Stuff, PostScript, GuruGrams, Ask
    the Guru, and Flutterwumper resources.

Ask Don any Santa Claus question.   Go to the Flutterwumper library.  Explore an Energy Efficiency opportunity.  Find Instant Research Answers.

Please click here to... 

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