Design of prototype devices for producing metal microspheres and shells

Abstract

Rapid prototyping technology implemented quite actively for all types and types of production. Its application reduces the influence of human factor on quality of a product but it also require the operator that knows this field and have some skills of handling machine. These technologies are also used to create models and visual functional prototypes, which can recreate the developed process and test the individual steps to prove its efficiency. The laboratory equipment that was made in Freiberg University of Mining and Technology allows to produce metal microspheres and shell (0,5 – 3 mm). Modernization of this equipment was proposed by creating a prototype of a mechatronic system that would show the requirements to the device and its capabilities. Creation of a device prototype is a transitional point from a laboratory layout to production equipment that works with high performance and repeatability. The device can operate under vacuum and inert gas that allows to work not only with model materials such as tin, zinc, alloy rose eutectic alloys based on bismuth and tin but also with structural materials, such as aluminum, magnesium and their alloys. Individual parts of the functional prototype was created by rapid prototyping technology (MJM, FDM and milling) of the polymers.