Rapid Prototyping

This text provides an introduction to the fundamental theories and applications of rapid prototyping and traces its development in the arena of advanced manufacturing technologies.

Rapid prototyping technology has become a powerful tool for rapid product development in almost every branch of industry. Many new and upcoming processes offer means for the fast creation of models with steadily increasing accuracy, build speed, model properties, and economic advantages. This book encourages engineers to incorporate rapid prototyping in their daily routine. It illustrates the benefits that come with the use of models at any stage of the product development process and defines the different types of models. It covers the fundamentals of rapid prototyping and the special capabilities of prototypers. It shows how digital production based on low volume rapid prototyped samples can be realized.

User's Guide to Rapid Prototyping will help designers, engineers, executive management, and others in the company understand how to apply rapid prototyping technologies such as 3D printing, stereo-lithography, selective laser sintering, and fused deposition modeling to the product development process. Intertwined with rapid prototyping, the processes of rapid tooling and rapid manufacturing are also discussed. An aid to making informed business decisions, the book provides information about when it may be right to implement rapid prototyping in-house versus going to a service provider. The path through justification, evaluation, and implementation is outlined. Readers will gain insights into the benefits, risks, and limitations of each technology.

Rapid prototyping is a faster, more cost-effective method for building prototypes from three-dimensional computer-aided design (CAD) drawings. Rapid Prototyping provides a fundamental overview of the general manufacturing process and presents the principles and applications of designing and fabricating parts in a format that makes learning easy. This user-friendly text features basic information on layered manufacturing processes, the essential vocabulary of nomenclature, numerous review exercises, case studies, a full section of rapid prototyping applications, helpful material for further study, applications to real-world problems, and more.

Since the dawn of civilization, mankind has been engaged in the conception and manufacture of discrete products to serve the functional needs of local customers and the tools (technology) needed by other craftsmen. In fact, much of the progress in civilization can be attributed to progress in discrete product manufacture. The functionality of a discrete object depends on two entities: form, and material composition. For instance, the aesthetic appearance of a sculpture depends upon its form whereas its durability depends upon the material composition. An ideal manufacturing process is one that is able to automatically generate any form (freeform) in any material. However, unfortunately, most traditional manufacturing processes are severely constrained on all these counts. There are three basic ways of creating form: conservative, subtractive, and additive. In the first approach, we take a material and apply the needed forces to deform it to the required shape, without either adding or removing material, i. e. , we conserve material. Many industrial processes such as forging, casting, sheet metal forming and extrusion emulate this approach. A problem with many of these approaches is that they focus on form generation without explicitly providing any means for controlling material composition. In fact, even form is not created directly. They merely duplicate the external form embedded in external tooling such as dies and molds and the internal form embedded in cores, etc. Till recently, we have had to resort to the 'subtractive' approach to create the form of the tooling.

Rapid Prototyping of Biomaterials: Principles and Applications provides a comprehensive review of established and emerging rapid prototyping technologies (such as bioprinting) for medical applications. Rapid prototyping, also known as layer manufacturing, additive manufacturing, solid freeform fabrication, or 3D printing, can be used to create complex structures and devices for medical applications from solid, powder, or liquid precursors. Following a useful introduction, which provides an overview of the field, the book explores rapid prototyping of nanoscale biomaterials, biosensors, artificial organs, and prosthetic limbs. Further chapters consider the use of rapid prototyping technologies for the processing of viable cells, scaffolds, and tissues. With its distinguished editor and international team of renowned contributors, Rapid Prototyping of Biomaterials is a useful technical resource for scientists and researchers in the biomaterials and tissue regeneration industry, as well as in academia. Comprehensive review of established and emerging rapid prototyping technologies (such as bioprinting) for medical applications Chapters explore rapid prototyping of nanoscale biomaterials, biosensors, artificial organs, and prosthetic limbs Examines the use of rapid prototyping technologies for the processing of viable cells, scaffolds, and tissues

"Engineering Design and Rapid Prototyping" offers insight into the methods and techniques that allow for easily implementing engineering designs by incorporating advanced methodologies and technologies. This book contains advanced topics such as feature-based design and process planning, modularity and rapid manufacturing, along with a collection of the latest methods and technologies currently being utilized in the field. The volume also: -Provides axiomatic design and solution methodologies for both design and manufacturing -Discusses product life cycle development and analysis for ease of manufacture and assembly -Offers applied methods and technologies in rapid prototyping, tooling and manufacturing "Engineering Design and Rapid Prototyping" will be extremely valuable for any engineers and researchers and students working in engineering design.

This turnkey technology source provides an introduction to rapid prototyping and manufacturing (RP&M) with emphasis on Stereolithography which represents the majority of all rapid prototyping systems currently in place. The content is based on theory, analysis and experiment with extensive test data, including select case studies from the automotive, simultaneous engineering, and medical sectors.