Anthony Padgett
Millennium Angel Scanning and Manufacturing 12 - 1998-9 by Anthony Padgett
Other companies began to be involved in the project, using the advanced manufacturing process known as RP (Rapid Prototyping). This involves turning the scanned data into .stl (stereo-lithography) files. Then the computer model is sliced into 0.1mm layers and manufacture is from the bottom up. So if the machine was starting from the base of a standing figure then it would begin by cutting the feet, then ankles, then knees etc. Each layer is only a tenth of a millimeter thick so it would take 500 layers to make a foot.
The Rear Leg was made by The Innovative Manufacturing Centre and UMAK Limited. And the process that they used is called LOM - Laminated Object Manufacture. Here a laser cuts the contour of an object on a 0.1mm layer of paper then another layer is laid down and next contour of the object is cut. The part is then broken out from the cut layers.
The final section was about 100 x 40 x 50 centimetres and was made by glueing together 5 LOM parts then inserting steel rods down the leg to ensure that the parts do not separate. The parts were treated so that they are stable in a range of temperatures and humidities. This is so that the layers do not delaminate. Steve Upcraft (IMC), Simon Graham (Umak) and Paul Webber (IMC) can be seen here.
Millennium Angel Scanning and Manufacturing 12 - 1998-9 by Anthony Padgett
Other companies began to be involved in the project, using the advanced manufacturing process known as RP (Rapid Prototyping). This involves turning the scanned data into .stl (stereo-lithography) files. Then the computer model is sliced into 0.1mm layers and manufacture is from the bottom up. So if the machine was starting from the base of a standing figure then it would begin by cutting the feet, then ankles, then knees etc. Each layer is only a tenth of a millimeter thick so it would take 500 layers to make a foot.
The Rear Leg was made by The Innovative Manufacturing Centre and UMAK Limited. And the process that they used is called LOM - Laminated Object Manufacture. Here a laser cuts the contour of an object on a 0.1mm layer of paper then another layer is laid down and next contour of the object is cut. The part is then broken out from the cut layers.
The final section was about 100 x 40 x 50 centimetres and was made by glueing together 5 LOM parts then inserting steel rods down the leg to ensure that the parts do not separate. The parts were treated so that they are stable in a range of temperatures and humidities. This is so that the layers do not delaminate. Steve Upcraft (IMC), Simon Graham (Umak) and Paul Webber (IMC) can be seen here.