Equipment Bid: Rapid Prototyping and Vacuum Casting to Support Robotics Research at BRL

本建议书是根据多项目设备计划提交的，专门用于购买布里斯托机器人实验室（BRL）确定和要求的设备。申请资金用于购买快速成型机RP（47，532）和真空铸造单元VC（21，152），这将在BRL进行的大量当前和未来研究项目中发挥重要的基础作用。需要明确的是，本申请涉及使用所要求的设备来支持当前和未来的研究项目;我们并没有明确地进行快速原型制造的研究，尽管我们将把这项技术推向极限。快速原型制造的需求已经通过不断使用BRL中的现有设施得到了证实，这是一台FDM RP机器。然而，这也强调了通过更大的功能和分辨率可以实现的目标，因此迫切需要现场快速原型和真空铸造的额外设施。BRL目前的机器在一个有空调的机房里，并有专职的技术人员进行操作和维护，因此既有指定的空间，又有合格的技术人员，以确保安全运行。该提案列出了所要求的两台机器的能力，它们如何扩展和加强现有能力，以及如何在实验室开展的许多项目中广泛使用它们的例子（见www.brl.ac.uk）。此外，我们还要求为BRL技术人员提供一些资金，以便在机器使用的初始阶段，他可以专门用于培训自己，然后由他培训研究人员。在本申请中，“快速原型”一词是在现代意义上使用的，即制造立即可用的零件。在这种情况下，我们指的是直接用于机器人零件构造的装配体的创建，而不是“简单地”创建用于生产前检查的装配体。

This proposal is submitted under the Equipment for Multiple Projects scheme, and is specifically made to purchase equipment identified and required by the Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL). Funds are requested for the purchase of a rapid prototyping machine RP (47,532) and vacuum casting unit VC (21,152) which will play a vital underpinning role in a large number of current and future research projects conducted in BRL. To be crystal clear, this submission relates to the use of the requested equipment to support current and future research projects; we are not explicitly conducting research in rapid prototypying although we will be pushing the technology to its limits.The need for rapid prototyping has been substantiated by the constant use of the current facility in the BRL, a FDM RP machine. However this has also emphasised what could be achieved with greater functionality and resolution, and therefore the urgent requirement for additional facility in rapid prototyping and vacuum casting, on site. BRL has the current machine in an air-conditioned machine room and full-time technician for operation and maintenance, and therefore has both the designated space and qualified technician to ensure safe operation. The proposal sets out the capabilities of two requested machines, how they extend and enhance the current capability and examples of how they will be extensively used in the many projects undertaken in the laboratory (see www.brl.ac.uk). In addition we request some funding for the BRL technician in order that time can be dedicated to training of himself, and then by him of research personnel in the initial phase of machine use.In this submission the term 'rapid prototyping' is used in the modern sense; making immediately useable parts. In this context, we refer to the creation of assemblies which will be used directly for the construction of robot parts and not 'simply' to create assemblies for inspection prior to production.