The Development of LCD Photomask Based Desktop Manufacturing System
Journal
IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics
Journal Volume
55
Journal Issue
10
Pages
3715-3723
Date Issued
2008-01
Author(s)
J. H. Tzou
Abstract
A liquid crystal display (LCD)-photomask-based desktop manufacturing system that includes software and hardware configuration is described. The software design includes a slicing algorithm, an LCD photomask display, a process-user interface, and a motion control program. The bucket-sorting algorithm is used in the slicing preprocessing for search speed enhancement. The slicing time ratio can be reduced to nearly 25% with five buckets. The hardware configuration of this architecture includes an LCD photomask, an optical system, a z-axis elevator, and a personal-computer-based control system. The matrix optics assists the optical system design of the proposed RP machine. After the slicing process, a cross-sectional contour of each layer is transferred to the LCD photomask. The optical system emits parallel light upward through the photomask to expose and solidify the entire layer at once. This visible light can expose and solidify an entire layer at once, layer by layer, until the whole part is finished. We have physically demonstrated the complete system, including hardware and software implementation, and the experimental results are as what was expected and are described here. © 2008 IEEE.
Subjects
Bucket sorting; Desktop manufacturing system; Liquid crystal display (LCD) photomask; Matrix optics
Other Subjects
Boolean functions; Computer architecture; Concurrency control; Control systems; Electromagnetic waves; Light; Light sources; Liquid crystal displays; Liquid crystals; Machine design; Optical systems; Photolithography; Powders; Process engineering; Software design; Spurious signal noise; User interfaces; Bucket sorting; Complete systems; Control programs; Desktop manufacturing system; Hardware and software implementations; Hardware configurations; Layer-by-layer; Manufacturing systems; Matrix optics; Optical System designs; Parallel light; Pre-processing; Search speeds; Slicing algorithms; Slicing processes; Sorting algorithms; Time ratios; Visible light; Computer hardware
Type
journal article