Custom-fit

Customization [1] is a broad term which could be defined as tailor-made. To this respect, mass customization [2] could be defined as a massive personalization or personalization for everybody.

In the development of the term, a customized product would imply the modification of some of its characteristics according to the customers requirements [3]. However, when Fit is added to the term, customisation could give the idea of both the geometric characteristics of the body and the individual customer requirements (Tuck et al, 2006), i.e. the steering wheel of the Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso [4].

Consequently, the Custom-Fit concept can be understood as the of offering one-of-a-kind products that, due to their intrinsic characteristics and use, can be totally adapted to geometric characteristics in order to meet the user requirements (Anton et al, 2006).

With a global approach to this new concept, the European industry sector [5] could become a highly technical one [6], moving from a resource based manufacturing system to a knowledge based manufacturing system and from mass production [7] to individual production. This encourages the “Lean Production” trend as established by Toyota, or in other words, an efficiency based production [8].

Research

There are some studies referring to the positive impacts this concept would have on society:

• Customised Motorcycle Seats (Loughborouh University, 2007)
• Orthopaedic Profession (Wagner et al, 2007)

The research studies found in February 2008 on the subject are the following:

• Customised Mortorcycle and Helmet (Tuck et al, 2007)
• Toy Seat [[9]].
• Knee and Manxilo-facial Implants [[10]] and Prosthetics Sockets (Dolinsek, 2007).

Technical Tools

Data Capturing

The process starts with the capturing of data directly from the user by CAD techniques [11] with the ultimate aim of manufacturing products using CAM techniques [12].

In this field, the “Human Solutions” company [13] has designed the Neutral Scan Format, which allows the storing of both geometric and non-geometric data and personal customer information. To support the editing and loading of NSF files, Human Solutions also ascertained the related interface to make the NSF Files compatible to be interpreted by the 3D program. Ulrich Botzenhards, who leads the project in Human Solutions says “The NSF file format can be used to store the information for any customised product. The NSF viewer application displays the contents of a NSF file in hierarchical format, the information is clearly displayed and this makes the image viewer very easy to use” [[14]].

Process Design and Validation

• Converting scanned data directly and automatically into final models ready for printing: Digital Cad Approach and Hybrid Approach.

• Representing Structure for Functionally Graded Material:

1. Interface Innerspace developed by TNO which integrates the RDT Centers in The Netherlands [[15]].
2. Multi Phase Topology Optimisation, designed by Fraunhofer (comparable to TNO in Germany) [[16]].
3. Finite Element Representation [17] used by Materialise [18] in Belgium, the European leader in 3D printers and Digital Software.

• A rapid manufacturing [19] interface called Slice Raster Inteface, also designed by Materialise.

Although all these developments have been of great interest, the RM-processes have not fallen behind, due to improvement of new Rapid Prototyping [[20]] techniques.

Rapid Manufacturing Systems, Tools and Materials

• The Metal Printing Process developed by SINTEF [[21]] in Norway, produces 3D products with metal powder with different graduation, sintered layer-by-layer [[22]].

MPP aims to become the equivalent of a high speed 3D-printer that produces three-dimensional objects directly from powder materials. This technique is based on the process principles of xerographic printers [23], (for example laser -or LED- printers [24]) that combine electrostatic printing with photography. The MPP process approach uses the same fundamental principles to build solid objects on a layer-by-layer basis. Layers of powder materials are generated by attracting different metal- and/or ceramic powders to their respective position on a charged pattern on a photoreceptor by means of an electrostatic field. The attracted layer is transferred to a punch and transported to the consolidation unit where each layer of part material is sintered onto the previous by pressure and heat. The procedure is repeated layer-by-layer until the three-dimensional object is fully formed and consolidated.

MPP has the ability to print different powders within the same layer and progressively change from one material to another, i.e. producing a functionally graded material. In addition to this, MPP uses external pressure to speed the densification process (sintering), which allows manufacturing with a wide range of materials and opens the possibility to produce unique material combinations and microstructures.

• The High Viscosity Inkjet Printing developed by TNO has the capability of printing with one or more materials with graded structures in a single process using additive technology [25].

It has several print heads that produce continuous streams of material droplets at high frequency. The High Viscosity Inkjet Printing machine is also capable of printing multi-materials simultaneously and also enables the mixing and grading of materials in any combination that is desired. This will enable the manufacturing of products with two or more materials that are graded and there will be no distinct boundary between the materials. This will result in products with unique mechanical properties.

Dr. Michiel Willemse who is leading the project says, “The process is unique in its capability to print highly viscous, UV curable, resins. Material formulations with viscosities up to 500 mPa•s (at ambient temperature) have been printed successfully. This offers the opportunity to print products with unequalled mechanical properties when compared to any other printing systems” [[26]].

• The Plastic Powder Printing Process developed by The Monfort University [[27]] in the United Kingdom is based on the concept of fusing layers of a wide range of plastic powders in the desired combination by laser printing [28]. PPP aims to develop the equivalent of a high speed laser printer [29] that produces three-dimensional 3D objects from plastic powder where powder is first deposited by means of laser printing /electrophotography technique and subsequently fused under infrared heating units to make solid layers. Layers are consolidated further to make 3D plastic objects. Various thermoplastic [30] toners from standard engineering polymers like polyethylene [31] (high and low density), polypropylene [32], and polystyrene [33] have already been deposited using this technique and later fused with infrared rays to form the layers.

References

• C. J. Tuck; R. J. M. Hague; M. Ruffo; M. Ransley; P. Adams (2007). "Rapid manufacturing facilitated customization". International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing. Retrieved 30/01/2008 [On line]. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

• Guerrits, Anton; Lewis Jones, Chris and Valero, Rafael. (2006). "Volume 3". Custom-Fit: Quality of Life of European Sporting Public through Custom-Fit products. The Engineering of Sports 6 - Developments for innovation. pp. 5–10. ISBN-10: 0-387-34680-5, ISBN-13: 978-0387-34680-9. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |chapter url= (help); Text "accesdata" ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• "Body-fitting customisation of Motorcycle seats: an investigation of consumer requirements". International Journal of Mass Customisation. 2007. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |autor= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• H. Wagner; A. Dainty; R. Hague; C. Tuck; M. H. Ong (2007). "The effects of new technology adoption on employee skills in the prosthetics profession". 10.1080/00207540701432623. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |accesdate= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Chris Tuck, Min Huey Ong, Helen Wagner and Richard Hague (October 2007). "Extreme Customization: Rapid Manufacturing Products that Enhance the Consumer" (PDF). Retrieved 30/01/2008 [CD-Room]. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Dolinsek, Slavko (2007). "Aplikacije hitre izdelave v medicini –projekt Custom-fit". IRT3000 (5): 56–58. PMID 1854-3669. {{cite journal}}: Check |pmid= value (help); Unknown parameter |Volume= ignored (|volume= suggested) (help)