PolyJet Best Practices: How to Prototype Surfaces with Varied Friction Coefficients
Friction is defined as the force that opposes the relative motion or tendency of such motion of two surfaces in contact. The friction coefficient of a prototype’s surface is a functional component, not an aesthetic one, and simulates the end product’s mechanical properties. A well-designed prototype that takes friction into consideration can have the following advantages: an improved grip for the end-user, reduced part wear, simulated movement functionality and sliding abilities.
PolyJetTM ConnexTM 3D Printing systems provide a solution for prototyping surfaces with varied friction coefficients that were impossible or cost-prohibitive to prototype in the past. By being able to print several materials in one build process, Connex systems can produce prototypes with varying friction areas on one given part. Users determine the friction coefficients for different areas of a part according to the load factor. This saves time and money by providing an easy solution for prototyping complex parts whose dynamic friction coefficients can be tested in a single build process.
The following tutorial is brought to you by Stratasys:
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Step 1: Saving
Save your design in separate STL files according to the different parts. This is recommended for flexible areas, as well as for rigid parts. Later, the parts can be printed in different colors to visually separate areas of the model.
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Step 2: Labeling
Label each part with its relevant Shore value. Labeling will help you easily determine which Shore values received the highest score in your evaluation criteria tests.
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Step 3: Designing
Design your model in such a manner to enable the mounting of flexible parts on your full assembly of rigid and flexible parts. You can then use the Connex system’s ability to print up to 9 different Shore values in one build process and then assemble each part on the model for evaluation.
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Step 4: Coating
Use the Objet StudioTM software to coat parts with various thicknesses from 0.3mm to 3mm with one mouse click. You may use any one of the different digital materials as the coating material.
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Step 5:
To avoid disengagements, design the model so the rigid material extrudes as a thin core into the flexible one (see figure 3). This creates a connection that can withstand repeated flexing and bending.
