Investigating critical design characteristics through experimental testing of photopolymeric models Available to Purchase

Engineering design optimisation of products and investigating the influence of various critical design parameters on their operational performance has been a complex task. Despite the recent development of sophisticated computer hardware and software tools, increasing the use of computer‐based simulation methods and virtual prototypes, the product development process could be sharply aided by the implementation of rapidly available physical models of the products' conceptual designs. Such rapid prototyping models could be used for experimental evaluation and validation purposes, where critical aspects of the product can be investigated, tested and refined. The objective of this study was to investigate the prospect, and demonstrate the ability, of obtaining engineering data through experimental testing of stereolithography built models. This paper reports on the experimental data obtained from the two application examples studied: a consumer food metal container and an engine intake port component.