Beta Site Testing of the SRI Stereolithography Machine

摘要

A task was undertaken to increase the powder fraction of the AS800 Si(3)N(4) slurry in case a higher volume fraction slurry was needed to fill the shells produced by SRI with their solid freeform method with a special Si(3)N(4) formulation that might require a different particle packing density relative to that used to form the shell, and thus avoid problems that might be encountered due to differential shrinkage either during densification. In addition, the slurries produced with the increased volume fraction reported here were also used to mold bar specimens via a colloidal iso-press forming method developed at UCSB. Prior to the demonstration that SRI could fill the shell with a slurry of the same volume fraction as used to form the shell, it was thought that the colloidal iso-press forming method would be useful for consolidation both the shell and the filled composition during in a single operation. This research was carried out by, Reto Joray, a Masters Degree student from the Technical University of Zurich for his diploma work. Mr. Joray spent approximately 6 months at UCSB and returned to Zurich at the end of May, 1999.