Reverse Manufacturing and 3D Inspection of Mechanical Fasteners Fabricated Using Photopolymer Jetting Technology

Abstract

Polyjet additive manufacturing is gaining attention owing to its ability to manufacture intricate parts with microscopic resolution. This study investigates the spatial precision of mechanical fasteners utilizing the 3D scanning technology followed by reverse engineering to obtain the accuracy of polyjet fabricated components. Numerous M8 bolts, as well as nuts, are additively manufactured to replace metal fasteners in various industrial fields such as aerospace, medical, electronics, automotive, and food packaging. M8 mild steel fastener was 3D scanned using Carl Zeiss COMET L3D2 3D scanner, and precise details of the products were gathered. Three-dimensional scanning captures a large number of surface points, resulting in a more accurate representation of the object. The gathered data were used to fabricate numerous nuts and bolts utilizing the Object 260 Connex 3 printer utilizing Vero thermoplastic polymer resins. The stability of the 3D printed specimens was investigated using Carl Zeiss COMET L3D2 3D scanner. The fabricated M8 fasteners’ dimensional error is investigated in all orientations and every axes, and the respective dimensional variations are shown in detail. The high-quality production of fasteners through photopolymer jetting met all accuracy criteria and fit within the IT 06 transition fit grade.