Rapid prototyping

For rapid software prototyping, see rapid application development.

A rapid prototyping machine using selective laser sintering.

Rapid prototyping can be defined as a group of techniques used to quickly fabricate a scale model of a physical part or assembly using three-dimensional computer aided design (CAD) data.

Construction of the part or assembly is usually done using 3D printing technology. The first techniques for rapid prototyping became available in the late 1980s and were used to produce models and prototype parts. Today, they are used for a much wider range of applications and are even used to manufacture production-quality parts in relatively small numbers. Some sculptors use the technology to produce exhibitions.

See also

• Additive Manufacturing File Format
• Fab lab
• Laser engineered net shaping
• Cladding (metalworking)
• MeshLab
• RepRap
• Von Neumann universal constructor

Bibliography

• Wright, Paul K. (2001). 21st Century manufacturing. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc.

External links

• Rapid prototyping websites at the Open Directory Project