Abstract:
Microwave heating technology is an alternative cost-effective way for assisting the thermosetting process of thin epoxy resin layers of material. With the benefit of existing modelling for computing the electromagnetic field and power density distribution in a cavity, an investigation is conducted about the application of the electromagnetic field and their effects on thin epoxy resin layer. The results of the simulations are used to optimize the design of the microwave heating system for curing thin epoxy resin layer. The investigation leads to a feasibility study to combine the microwave heating process with rapid product development technique, to efficiently build 3-dimensional models through fast curing of thin epoxy resin layers. Numerous configurations are investigated, by changing the design of microwave applicator. A numerical model is used to identify the strength and weakness of each design, leading to an optimized configuration that can be used for microwave heating, fast curing of thin epoxy resin layer. From the present study it can be concluded that a mathematical model can be used to optimize microwave heating devices, which can enable the configuration to deliver a uniform electric field.
Key words:
Rapid prototyping Product development Mathematical modelling Microwave heating
* Selected from Proceedings of International Symposium of Advanced Manufacturing Technology (ISAMT'2001); revised manuscript July 20, 2002
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