Layered thin film micro parts reinforced with aligned short fibers in laser stereolithography by applying magnetic field

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to produce micro parts reinforced by unidirectional short fibers using laser stereolithography. Ferromagnetic short fibers are added to a liquid photopolymer and a magnetic field is then applied to the liquid photopolymer, aligning the axes of the short fibers along the magnetic field direction. Then, the photopolymer is solidified by UV laser irradiation in a desired shape. Solidified photopolymers containing the unidirectional short fibers are layered until the desired height is obtained. The surfaces of the solidified layers are observed and the possibility of a reinforcing effect between the layers is examined. © 2012 by JSME.