Tooling Ideas for the Operator to Perform Touch-Up Procedure 1. Dental pick

http://www.minitoolinc.com/microtools.htm Pros

• Ability to dispense micro amounts onto part o Does not require smearing of ink on part from Operators POV

• Maintains current Touch-Up Process - No Training • Simple and Easy to use

Cons • Dangerous if sharper than current tooling • May require smearing if it does not dispense material • Requires use of microscope to connect points

2. “Stamping”

A. Channeled part allows for injection of gold material onto ceramic part

B. Channeled part with front face to meet shoulder of the probe

C. Channeled block part with a representation of a “blade,” which could be used to push the gold ink into the vertex of the shoulder of the ceramic probe Link for Robotics: http://mitsubishirobotics.com/videos

• Tooling designed to contour edge of ceramic part • Injects micro amount of material into the 90 degree corner of the part • Sliding tray (Option A or C) or hand held tooling (possibility of simple

automation) o Arduino boards

Pros • Simplifies process • Potential to increase throughput through simplification/automation of

process • Reduction of ergonomic issues - Does not require microscope

Cons • Retraining will be required for New Touch-Up Procedure • Possibility of smearing part (in comparison to current process) • Tooling tip specificity for each part number (3 different tools)

3. “Pantographing”

http://www.wpiinc.com/products/top-products/m325-three-axis-manual-micromanipulator/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantograph

• A pantograph is a tool containing a mechanical linkage that allows the operator to draw an image with relatively high detail, while a parallel part of the system draws the same image, at the same time, with the same high detail, but in a smaller size

• This system would control Touch-Up through indirect movements from the operator onto the ceramic part to connect points

Pros • Simple for operators to connect points with larger scale drawing • Ability to dispense micro amounts onto part • Does not require microscope to complete process

Cons • Possible issue of design - Can this idea be used with this type of system?

3D? Difficulty of Design? • Requires visual check to ensure part is correct

Ideas for Tooling to Transfer Part After Printing Process 1. Wire with Kink

http://www.diracdelta.co.uk/science/source/k/i/kink%20test/source.html#.ViVnhRCrSsc

• Kink would solve the problem of parts slipping/smearing when an operator

comes in contact while trying to place the part into the final product tray

Pros • Reduces amount of scrap from dropping parts • Simplifies transfer of parts to machine • Possible improvement of throughput

Cons • Possible higher costs from current process

2. Design tooling to hold smaller parts. • Many of the issues presented are from the problem of people having to

deal with extremely small parts. If the tooling becomes part of the ceramic & wire part, that may be a viable solution

• Tooling would look like a pair of pliers with wire attached to end permanently

• When the part is placed in the chuck, the wire can be removed or left in place (may cause problems with the current movement of the print tooling head)

• Finish parts tray would have to be modified to have points sticking out for parts to rest on

• End of wire on tooling could have hollow edge to place onto WIP tray and slide ceramic part off

Stainless steel micro-pliers - $30.53 http://www.mcmaster.com/#5261a13/=zdcwv8 Pros

• Possibility of decreasing ergonomic issues from pinching small parts with fingers

• Decreases space requirement for operator to place part into chuck • Controllability increases through the new gripping of parts

Cons • Changes to the current finished products tray need to be made if option is

viable • Printing may interfere with the tooling based on the design

3. “Snap” Tooling – Bobby Pin Example

https://pixabay.com/p-153514/?no_redirect

• Ceramic parts would snap into a wire that contains two “kinks” placed at

specific points to hold the part at that specific point on the wire Pros

• Reduces amount of scrap from dropping parts • Simplifies transfer of parts to machine

Cons • Possible higher costs from current process • Time to remove part from final product tray after furnace could increase • Wire would be specific to each part number (3 different types)