Rapid prototyping

Rapid prototyping is a group of techniques used to quickly fabricate a <a href="/facts/Scale_model/YgCtlwqb">scale model</a> of a physical part or assembly using <a href="/facts/Three-dimensional_space/KAqKWUbS">three-dimensional</a> <a href="/facts/Computer_aided_design/5gSXrmmN">computer aided design</a> (<a href="/facts/Computer-aided_design/5gSXrmmN">CAD</a>) data.
Construction of the part or assembly is usually done using <a href="/facts/3D_printing/lbvWU3t0">3D printing</a> technology.
The first methods for rapid prototyping became available in mid 1987 and were used to produce <a href="/facts/Physical_model/remaCtIh">models</a> and <a href="/facts/Prototype/q0yPLYdb">prototype</a> parts. Today, they are used for a wide range of applications and are used to <a href="/facts/Manufacture/3qW7bcdy">manufacture</a> production-quality parts in relatively small numbers if desired without the typical unfavorable short-run economics. This economy has encouraged online service bureaus. Historical surveys of RP technology start with discussions of <a href="/facts/Simulacrum/0JfnTh8m">simulacra</a> production techniques used by 19th-century sculptors. Some modern <a href="/facts/Sculptor/F01q8gtb">sculptors</a> use the progeny technology to produce <a href="/facts/Exhibition/jQTslhVk">exhibitions</a> and various objects. The ability to reproduce designs from a dataset has given rise to issues of rights, as it is now possible to interpolate volumetric data from 2D images.
As with <a href="/facts/CNC/B2c7UbaX">CNC</a> <a href="/facts/Machining/Yrjfj6IV">subtractive methods</a>, the computer-aided-design – computer-aided manufacturing <a href="/facts/Computer_aided_design/5gSXrmmN">CAD</a> -<a href="/facts/Computer-aided_manufacturing/gqYHXcK9">CAM</a> workflow in the traditional rapid prototyping process starts with the creation of geometric data, either as a 3D solid using a CAD workstation, or 2D slices using a scanning device. For rapid prototyping this data must represent a valid geometric model; namely, one whose boundary surfaces enclose a finite volume, contain no holes exposing the interior, and do not fold back on themselves. In other words, the object must have an "inside". The model is valid if for each point in 3D space the computer can determine uniquely whether that point lies inside, on, or outside the boundary surface of the model. CAD post-processors will approximate the application vendors' internal CAD geometric forms (e.g., B-splines) with a simplified mathematical form, which in turn is expressed in a specified data format which is a common feature in <a href="/facts/3D_printing/lbvWU3t0">additive manufacturing</a>: <a href="/facts/STL_(file_format)/IGvbNCYE">STL</a> file format, a <a href="/facts/De_facto_standard/TRELHVwI">de facto standard</a> for transferring solid geometric models to SFF machines.
To obtain the necessary motion control trajectories to drive the actual SFF, rapid prototyping, <a href="/facts/3D_printing/lbvWU3t0">3D printing</a> or additive manufacturing mechanism, the prepared geometric model is typically sliced into layers, and the slices are scanned into lines (producing a "2D drawing" used to generate trajectory as in <a href="/facts/CNC/B2c7UbaX">CNC</a>'s toolpath), mimicking in reverse the layer-to-layer physical building process.

Rapid prototyping open-in-new

Rapid prototyping