Abstract: Instead of conventional laser cutting, a cutter-based laminated object manufacturing (LOM) type rapid prototyping system is proposed. The cutter set is introduced，in which the cutter can turn its cutting direction automatically. The motion of the cutter nose can be described by the tractrix-model. According to the model, the form error caused by cutting is analyzed and a method to eliminate the error by modifying the cutter path is thus obtained. Experimental research on the cutting notch is carried out through micro-analysis. On the experimental results, the dimension error caused by the notch is analyzed and the conclusions is that within the normal range of the cutting depth the dimension error is less than 3 microns. A physical model has been fabricated on the developed test machine, which indicates the proposed low cost system has use value.

Key words: Dimension error, Form error, Laminated object manufacturing (LOM), Paper deposition, Rapid prototyping (RP), stiffness rigid-flexible coupling vehicle system dynamics