There are a couple of things we do for our Actua, though I don't know how
well or not they work for TJ-88 (Thermojet), let me know.
1) Make sure the platform and part are cooled, sometimes we'll even throw it
in a refridgerator for a little while. The brittleness helps prevent the
supports from gumming and further distorting the surface. Be mindful of
thermal shock and warpage though.
2) hot air smoothing - (this is an old trick from wax hand prototyping for
jewelery) you can use a very fine hot air knife to locally smooth out large
flat sections of parts. This is a skilled art though and parts can be easily
damaged if you are not very careful. The smallest features are the first to
melt, so this does not work on areas were the feature size approaches the
size of the support surface defects. In other words, fillets, part
thicknesses, small protuding features etc. must all be larger than say about
1/8". Radio Shack carries a portable butane soldiering pen that has an
optional tip used for shrink wrapping insulation around electrical wiring.
The tip generates a very concentrated fine point convective hot air stream
that works really well for this. cost ~$35.
Thanks,
Giorgos Hatzilias
Laboratory Manager
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Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing Institute
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http://rpmi.marc.gatech.edu/ mailto:giorgos.hatzilias@marc.gatech.edu
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-rp-ml@bart.lpt.fi [mailto:owner-rp-ml@bart.lpt.fi]On Behalf
> Of Darryl Thorne
> Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2000 9:28 AM
> To: 'rapid prototype e-mail list'
> Subject: thermojet clean up
>
>
> Hi RP world,
>
> Has anyone who uses a thermojet any good ideas for clean removal of the
> support structure.
> I have found that the finished surface is quite rough and would appreciate
> any ideas for getting it a bit smoother so that there is less machining to
> do on the investment castings.
> Thank you in advance.
>
>
> Darryl Thorne.
> Apollo Fire Detectors Ltd.
> 36,Brookside Road,
> Havant.
> Hants.
> England
> PO9 3AB.
>
> Tel:+44 023 9249 2412
> Fax:+44 023 9249 2754
> e-mail: Darryl.thorne@apollo-fire.co.uk
>
>
>
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