Solid Ground Curing

Solid ground curing (SGC) is a photo-polymer-based

additive manufacturing (or 3D printing)[1] technology
used for producing models, prototypes, patterns, and production parts, in which the production of the layer geometry is carried out by means of a high-powered UV lamp
through a mask. As the basis of solid ground curing is the
exposure of each layer of the model by means of a lamp
through a mask, the processing time for the generation of
a layer is independent of the complexity of the layer.[2]
SGC was developed and commercialized by Cubital Ltd.
of Israel in 1986[3] in the alternative name of Solider System. While the method oered good accuracy and a very
high fabrication rate, it suered from high acquisition and
operating costs due to system complexity. This led to
poor market acceptance. While the company still exists,
systems are no longer being sold. Nevertheless, its still an
interesting example of the many technologies other than
stereolithography, its predeceasing rapid prototyping process that also utilizes photo-polymer materials.[4] Though
Objet Geometries Ltd. of Israel retains intellectual property of the process after the closure of Cubital Ltd. in
2002,[5] the technology is no longer being produced.

based on the geometric model of the part and the

desired layer thickness.
2. The optical mask is generated conforming to each
cross section.
3. After leveling, the platform is covered with a thin
layer of liquid photopolymer.
4. The mask corresponding to the current layer is positioned over the surface of the liquid resin, and the
resin is exposed to a high-power UV lamp.
5. The residual liquid is removed from the workpiece
by an aerodynamic wiper.
6. A layer of melted wax is spread over the workpiece
to ll voids. The wax is then solidied by applying
a cold plate to it.
7. The layer surface is trimmed to the desired thickness
by a milling disk.
8. The current workpiec is covered with a thin layer of
liquid polymer and step 4 to 7 are repeated for each
succeeding upper layer until the topmost layer has
been processed.

Technology

9. The wax is melted away upon completion of the part.

2 Advantages and disadvantages

The primary advantage of the solid ground curing system is that it does not require a support structure since
wax is used to ll the voids.[8] The model produced
by SGC process is comparatively accurate in the Zdirection because the layer is milled after each lightexposure process.[9] Although it oers good accuracy
coupled with high throughput, it produces too much waste
and its operating costs are comparatively high due to system complexity.[10]

Schematic Diagram of Solid Ground Curing Process

Solid ground curing utilizes the general process of hardening of photopolymers by a complete lighting and hardening of the entire surface, using specially prepared
masks.[6] In SGC process, each layer of the prototype is
cured by exposing to an ultra violet (UV) lamp instead
of by laser scanning. So that, every portion in a layer are
simultaneously cured and do not require any post-curing
processes. The process contains the following steps.[7]

3 References
[1] The engineer: The rise of additive manufacturing(n.d.).
Retrieved from
[2] Gebhardt, I.A.(2003). Rapid Prototyping: Industrial
Rapid Prototyping System: Prototyper: Solid Ground
Curing Cubital. (pp. 105-109)

1. The cross section of each slice layer is calculated

1

[3] Solid Ground Curing(n.d.). Retrieved from

[4] Castle Island Co.. (2002, June 22). Solid Ground Curing.
Retrieved from
[5] Gebhardt, I.A.(2003). Rapid Prototyping: Industrial
Rapid Prototyping System: Prototyper: Solid Ground
Curing Cubital. (pp. 105-109)
[6] Rapid Prototyping: Rapid Ground Curing(n.d.).
trieved from

Re-

[7] Lee, K.W. (1999). Principles of CAD/CAM/CAE Systems: Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing: Solid
Ground Curing (pp. 383-384).
[8] Dolenc, A.(1994).An Overview Of Rapid Prototyping
Technologies In Manufacturing:Solid Ground Curing. (p.
8)
[9] Gebhardt, I.A.(2003). Rapid Prototyping: Industrial
Rapid Prototyping System: Prototyper: Solid Ground
Curing Cubital. (pp. 105-109)
[10] Rapid Ground Curing: An Introduction(n.d.). Retrieved
from

REFERENCES

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

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