Procedure for Rapid Fabrication of Non-Assembly Mechanisms With Embedded Components

Abstract

In this paper, the application of Rapid Prototyping in fabricating non-assembly robotic systems and mechanisms with inserts is presented. Previous work demonstrated the use of the Rapid Prototype Stereolithography and Selective Laser Sintering techniques to fabricate prototypes of mechanical mobile joints. As examples of their applicability, the joint designs were then used to fabricate complex multi-articulated, multi-link, multi-loop systems in one step, without requiring assembly while maintaining the joint desired mobility. Expanding upon this, current research explores methods of insertion of component parts during the rapid prototype process. A rapidly prototyped mobile vehicle, RP MOVe, was fabricated to show this method and is presented here.