Prototyping is a process by which a working model or prototype is developed to test the various design ideas, features, concepts, use, functionality and performance. You can get feedback almost immeditally from the end user and give this to the manufacturer. The technology of rapid prototyping is quite revolutionary and innovative and has found widespread applications in nearly all types of industries. The prototypes can be developed on the basis of past design and its performance and necessary modifications can be made to refine the final product as per the requirements. Rapid Prototyping has manifold advantages like reduction of process cost, time and risks, conceptualizing of the actual product, delivery of high quality product, better communications and so on.
As it is with all the technologies, there are some disadvantages as well associated with rapid prototyping like communication gaps, high expectations of the users which are not fulfilled and so on. Really when you look at it, the benefits outweight all of the disadvantages. There are a host of different rapid prototyping technologies.
Rapid Prototyping Technologies: The numerous rapid prototyping technologies may include the various types like additive, formative or subtractive. Initially, rapid prototyping technologies involved only additive processes. You will see that the major differences between these variou additive technologies is that these layers are build differently between these options for creating parts. Some rapid prototyping technologies melt or soften materials for producing the Layers (FDM, SLS), whereas other technologies lay down liquid material called thermosets and these are later cured by different methods.
The various rapid prototyping technologies are SLA or Stereolithography, SLS or Selective Laser Sintering, LOM or Laminated Object Manufacturing, SGC or Solid Ground Curing, LENS or Laser Engineered Net Shaping, FDM or Fused Deposition Modeling, 3DP or Three Dimensional Printing, Inkjet, EBM or Electron Beam Melting and miscellaneous non-commercialized technologies.
SLA or Steroelithography: The Prototyping technology of SLA or stereolithography provides with the greatest accuracy and gives the best possible surface finish among all the rapid prototyping technologies. This technology uses liquid photopolymer resin that has the property of solidifying on contact with the correct color light. The most commonly used photopolymer materials need UV light, but resins that work in visible light are also used.
SLS or Selective Laser Sintering: SLS or Selective Laser Sintering rapid prototyping technology uses metallic powders or thermoplastics. This technology is quite similar to stereolithography. The finishing time is reduced as the undercuts and overhangs are given support by the solid bed of powder. The surface finishes are not as good as stereolithography. It requires no final curing like SLA, but the object is porous as it is sintered. The mechanical characteristics of the object can be improved by infiltrating the object with some other material as required by the application. Ceramic Tools and Metal Object and the direct fabrication of these things is one area where this method is used.
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