Applied Solvent-Based Slurry Stereolithography Process to Fabricate High-Performance Ceramic Earrings with Exquisite Details

This paper discusses the application of Slurry based Stereolithography additive manufacturing process in the fabrication of complex earring models without any support structures requirement, using High-Performance Ceramic (HPC) materials. The earring model chosen in this study is a Rose flower with blossomed petals. The petals have edge thickness in microns and extreme overhangs with a custom text and logo on the bottom. Using any other ceramic additive manufacturing process, it requires support structures to build this model. The support removal in such minute structures is not easy and not always successful. Using Solvent based Slurry Stereolithography (3S) process, models with the micron details and overhangs can be easily built. This is enabling the neat and clean post-processing procedure to maintain the exquisite details and also gain high surface quality. The ceramic material used in this application is alumina. With some additives, it will show in different colors like sapphire. The resultant flowers are vividly shown in white, pink, green, and blue. In this study, it is also discussed about the slurry process, Stereolithography system, and proven applications of the 3S process.