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A Look Into Rapid Prototyping

Rapid prototyping is a relatively new invention.

Author: Maria Tal
Date: Apr 9, 2010 - 1:09:17 PM

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Rapid prototyping is a relatively new invention. The first rapid prototyping machine came into existence in the 1980s and since then became an industry on its own. The term rapid prototyping was derived from the activity and the purpose of the earlier machines used before it.

Rapid prototyping has something to do with the automatic construction of physical objects with the help of what is called the additive manufacturing technology. During the 1980s, this process is mainly used in the production of prototype parts and models. Today, its use is already extended in the manufacturing of production-quality parts. Rapid prototyping is mainly used today for industrial and sculpting applications.

Examples of additive manufacturing technology are those generated from software of computers such as animation modeling software or AMS and computer aided designs or CAD. From this software, the design is created, which is then transferred into machines that will build the product. The process conforms to the concept of WYSIWYG or the What You See Is What You Get ideology. It is through additive fabrication that the production of any geometric figure becomes possible.

The rapid prototyping manufacturer has machines that are able to read files under the STL format. This format is the same ones being used by CAD and AMS software. The term rapid does not relate to how fast the entire process of prototyping for it can take several hours and even several days to finish. This is because the products being manufactured are usually large and complex.

Rapid prototype manufacturing involves various techniques. When it comes to solid freeform fabrication, two construction parts and two materials are used. The first one is has to do with building material and the second one is the support material. If a certain companies require the production of polymer products in high quantities, traditional injection molding is utilized because it is seen as more cost-effective.

Rapid prototyping machine is now being left behind when producing large products as rapid prototype manufacturing becomes more and more advanced. The process required for this includes the sequential delivery of energy and material to specified points in space so as to create a particular part.

View all articles by Maria Tal

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