Stereolithography assisted redesign and optimisation of a dishwasher spraying arm

The aim of this paper is to show how models fabricated via stereolithography (SL) served as "functional prototypes" for the redesign and optimisation of the spraying arm of a small dishwashing machine. The redesign process depended entirely on systematic experimental testing. SL modelling was employed in order to realise the various geometries proposed for the "new" spraying arm. The SL built spraying arm models (prototypes) themselves were used in the actual experiments, i.e. during the various dishwashing cycles. Their behaviour was very satisfactory. The methodology followed is presented in a systematic way. Aspects such as the effect of various build parameters on the models' functionality as well as "engineering solutions" given to problems encountered during fabrication and testing of the models are discussed in detail.