Manufacturing of Ceramic Microcomponents by a Rapid Prototyping Process Chain

Time-intensive and cost-consuming manufacturing of new ceramic components may be improved significantly by the use of rapid prototyping processes especially in the development of miniaturized or micropatterned components. Their molding is generally very expensive and finishing is difficult to the point of impossibility. Most known generative ceramic molding processes do not provide a sufficient resolution for the fabrication of microstructured components. In contrast to this, a rapid prototyping process chain that combines micro-stereolithography and low-pressure injection molding, for example, allows the rapid manufacturing of ceramic microcomponents from functional models to preliminary or small-lot series.