Modelos conceituais – a etapa mais fundamental do conceito ao protótipo

Conceptual models – the most fundamental step from concept to prototype

Concept prototype1

What is a conceptual model?

The conceptual model is a valuable tool for communicating ideas to users. A physical concept prototype created through rapid prototyping can provide effective information about the design's manufacturability and can be customized to meet specific customer requirements. Therefore, conceptual modeling helps reduce production time in the early stages of the design process. The products in question can meet deadlines, be developed faster and put into operation as quickly as possible.

Since all prototypes are manufactured using rapid prototyping technologies, there is no need to develop expensive prototype development tools. This significantly reduces production costs and allows projects to be integrated quickly and easily. It provides a low-risk way to discover design errors and make changes, and provides accurate models that can be used in production tools.

Conceptual models play an important role throughout the system development lifecycle. Figure 1-1 below shows the role of the conceptual model in a typical system development scenario. Of course, if the conceptual model is not fully developed, the execution of the underlying attributes of the system may not be implemented correctly, causing the problem to persist in the future. These mistakes occur in industry. The importance of conceptual models becomes clear when such system failures are mitigated through systems development and adherence to proven development techniques.

Concept prototype

How do you implement a conceptual model?

(1) SLA (stereolithography machine)

SLA is based on the principle of photopolymerization of liquid photosensitive resin. The liquid material can undergo rapid photopolymerization under irradiation with ultraviolet light of specific wavelength and intensity. The molecular weight increases sharply and the material changes from liquid to solid.

Figure 2-1 shows the working principle of the SLA. The liquid container is filled with liquid photopolymer resin. Under the influence of the deflection mirror, the laser beam can scan the surface of the liquid. The scan track and the presence or absence of light are controlled by the computer. Where the point of light is reached, the liquid solidifies. At the beginning of the forming time, the working platform is at a certain depth below the liquid level, and the focused point is scanned point by point on the liquid surface according to the computer's instructions, which is solidified point by point. When a scanning layer is completed, the non-irradiated area is still liquid resin. Then the lifting platform lowers the platform to a height and the formed layer is covered with a layer of resin. The scraper scrapes the liquid surface of the higher viscosity resin, and then sweeps the next layer, and the newly cured layer is solid. The background is glued to the previous layer and this is repeated until the entire piece is made and a solid three-dimensional model is obtained.

sla2-1sla2-2

2:1 2:2

(2) SLS (Selective Laser Sintering)

SLS was developed in 1989 by CR Dechard of the University of Texas at Austin. The SLS process is formed from a powdered material. The material powder is evenly spread on the upper surface of the molded part. The high-strength CO 2 A laser is used to scan the cross-section of the part in the newly applied layer, and the material powder is sintered under high-intensity laser irradiation to obtain the following. The zero-sintered section of the new part is bonded to the underlying formed part. After sintering a section of the section, a new layer of powder material is applied and the lower section is selectively sintered, as shown in Figure 2-2. After sintering is completed, excess dust is removed and then polished, dried, etc.

The SLS process is characterized by a wide variety of materials, not only for the production of plastic parts, but also for the production of ceramics, wax and other materials, mainly for the production of metal parts. The SLS process does not require any support, as there is no sintered powder as a support.

(3) CNC machining

CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control and has been around since the early 1970s. Previously it was called NC for digital control. While most people have never heard the word, if you work in the manufacturing industry, you've probably been working with CNC for a long time.

As you may have already guessed, all operations that the operator needs to perform on a traditional machine can be programmed with a CNC machine. Once the CNC code is up and running, it's easy to keep a CNC machine running. In fact, many CNC machines can run unattended throughout the entire machining cycle, allowing the operator to perform other tasks. This provides CNC users with several associated benefits, including reduced operator fatigue, fewer errors caused by human error, and consistent, predictable machining times for each workpiece.

Because the machine operates under program control, the skill level required of CNC operators (in terms of basic machining practices) is lower compared to machinists who use traditional machine tools to produce parts. At the same time, CNC machines are flexible. Because these machines operate from one program, running multiple artifacts is almost as easy as loading another program. Once the program has been verified and run by a production run, it can easily invoke the next run. This brings great benefits for fast conversions.

CNC technology is superior to SLA and SLS in terms of precision. Today's CNC machines have almost incredible accuracy and repeatability specifications. This means that once the program has been validated, two, ten or a thousand identical artifacts can be produced with ease and precision.

Purpose of conceptual models

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