DEVELOPMENT OF A RAPID PROTOTYPING SYSTEM FOR TACTILE GRAPHICS PRODUCTION

This paper presents the development of a computer-based system which utilizes rapid prototyping as a unique addition to manufacturing. Stereolithography is employed for the fabrication of complex geometry. Tactile graphics production is used as a case study to demonstrate the effectiveness of stereolithography in creating Braille-language description and tactile graphics with comparison to the current numerical controlled fabrication methods. Results from this study also point out the general limitation of rapid prototyping in manufacturing, in terms of the production lead time and cost. To facilitate the production of master patterns, a NC and SLA combined approach is introduced to make full use of the capability of both NC machining and SLA fabrication. The effectiveness of material removal using NC machining and the rapid realization of intricate geometry using SLA offer a unique balance between the need for product accuracy and the demand for cost reduction.