The Definition of Rapid Prototyping Technology

Rapid Prototyping (RP) technology is an advanced manufacturing technology which was developed in the nineties, and it is a key generic technology for the development and services of the new products of manufacturing enterprises, it plays a positive role in promoting the innovation of enterprise products, shorting the development cycle of new products, improving the product competitiveness force. Since the advent of the technology, it has been widely used in the manufacturing sector in the developed countries, there are also many rapid prototyping company resulting an emerging technology field. RP technology is integrated on the basis of the modern CAD / CAM technology, laser technology, computer numerical control technology, precision servo drive technology and new materials technology. Different types of rapid prototyping systems due to the different molding materials, the forming principles and system characteristics are also different. However, the basic principles are the same, that is “layered manufacturing, layered stack”, similar to the mathematical integration process. Figuratively speaking, a rapid prototyping system is like a "three-dimensional printer”.

The Advantages of Rapid Prototyping Technology
It can directly accept product design (CAD) data to quickly create a new product prototype, mold or model without preparing any mold, tool and tooling fixtures. Therefore, the popularization and application of rapid prototype model technology can greatly shorten the development cycle of new products, reduce development costs, improve development quality. From the traditional “removal method” to today's “growth method”, from the mold manufacturing to no mold making, these are the revolutionary significance which is brought by RP technology to manufacturing.

The Features of Rapid Prototyping Technology
RP technology possesses and disperses a complex three-dimensional entity into a series of layers film processing, which greatly reduces the difficulty of processing and it has the following characteristics: first, the fast whole forming process is suitable for the modern fierce product markets; second, it can be used to make arbitrarily complex shape three-dimensional solid; third, CAD models directly drive to achieve the high integration of design and manufacture, its intuitive and easy modification provide excellent design environment for the perfect design; fourth, there are no special fixtures, molds and cutting tools in the molding process, it not only saves the costs, but also shortens the production cycle. Fifth, the high integration is both the inevitable product of the modern science and the comprehensive application, it has the distinctive high-tech technology features. The above characteristics determine the RP techniques are suitable for the development of new products, and the manufacturing of fast single-piece, small batch parts, complex shape parts mold and model design manufacture, and it is also suitable for the manufacturing of machine materials which are difficulty to be possessed, exterior design, inspection, assembly inspection and fast reverse engineering.

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