ABSTRACT
The existing additive manufacturing processes for plastic parts have a number of limitations, as they were originally conceived as methods to make prototypes. The plastics involved in existing processes are generally limited to photosensitive polymers or powdered nylons. High resolution could be achieved via inkjet printing of low-viscosity photopolymers; however, they are usually based on epoxy, tend to be brittle, and suffer from absorption of moisture. Higher viscosity photopolymers used in stereolithography also have limited mechanical properties. With lower resolution processes
12.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 332 12.1.1 Nylon ......................................................................................................................... 332 12.1.2 Inkjet Additive Manufacturing of Polymeric Materials ........................................... 332 12.1.3 Reactive Inkjet Printing of Nylon 6 for Additive Manufacturing ............................ 333 12.1.4 Research into the Concept of Jetting of Nylon ......................................................... 334 12.1.5 Design of Experimental Setup .................................................................................. 335
12.2 Jetting of Caprolactam .......................................................................................................... 335 12.2.1 Process Parameters for Jetting of Caprolactam ........................................................ 335 12.2.2 Process Parameters and Jetting Stability .................................................................. 335 12.2.3 Recommended Window for Jet Array Stability ....................................................... 338
12.3 Jetting of Reactive Mixtures ................................................................................................. 339 12.3.1 Reactive Mixtures ..................................................................................................... 339 12.3.2 Microcrystal Content of Reactive Mixtures and Melt Supply Behavior .................. 339 12.3.3 Jetting Stability of Reactive Mixtures ......................................................................340
