A study on effects of process parameters in rapid freeze prototyping

Rapid freeze prototyping is a relatively new solid freeform fabrication process, which builds a three-dimensional part according to a CAD model by depositing and freezing water droplets layer by layer. A study on the effects of RFP process parameters including the nozzle scanning speed, droplet size, and droplet frequency in building ice parts with a single-nozzle work head is made. Presented in this paper are the results of this study which indicate that these process parameters determine the ice layer thickness and ice line width, which in turn determine the surface roughness and the waiting time required after depositing each layer of water (i.e. between successive layers) during the ice part building process.