FDC, rapid fabrication of structural components

Solid freeform fabrication (SFF) is used to make 3-D components directly from computer-aided design (CAD) files. Many SFF techniques have been developed to fabricate parts and prototypes from CAD without hard tooling, dies or molds. Most of these techniques have been commercialized for fabrication of polymer and plastic parts for design verification and form and fit. Other SFF techniques are being developed for production of ceramic components with functional properties. One such technique, called fused deposition of ceramics (FDC), has been developed and demonstrated for structural ceramics. FDC is based on existing fused deposition modeling (FDM{trademark}) technology, commercialized by Stratasys Inc. (Eden Prairie, Minn.), for processing of polymers and waxes. High-green-density, simple- and complex-shaped silicon nitride parts have been formed by fused deposition of ceramics.