Feasibility study on a novel stereolithography system incorporating magnetic levitation technique

Stereolithography apparatus (SLA), one of the 3-D printing devices, has problems such as post-processing to remove burrs and wasting materials used for the support legs. To solve these issues, we propose a novel SLA system that fabricates a desired object by photocuring and layering processes with a magnetically levitated special fluid. The fluid for 3-D printing requires magnetic sensitivity, UV light curability, uniform dispersion of magnetic fine particles, and low viscosity for fast response. In this paper, we present a new magnetic photocurable resin (mPCR) fluid that meets these requirements and report on the viscosity evaluation of the mPCR fluid. In addition, we designed and fabricated an SLA prototype system incorporating magnetic levitation components. Vertical photocuring tests were performed on a positioning-controlled mPCR fluid using the prototype. As a result, a vertical object of 2.24 mm in 56 layers was successfully formed.