View source for Rapid prototyping

{{For|rapid software prototyping|rapid application development}}
[[Image:3dprinter.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A rapid prototyping machine using [[selective laser sintering]].]]

'''Rapid prototyping''' is the automatic construction of physical objects using [[additive manufacturing]] technology. The first techniques for rapid prototyping became available in the late 1980s and were used to produce [[model (physical)|model]]s 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 [[sculptor]]s use the technology to produce complex shapes for [[fine arts]] [[exhibition]]s.

==Introduction==
[[Image:Rapid prototyping slicing.jpg|right|400px|thumb]]

The use of additive manufacturing  for rapid prototyping takes virtual designs from [[computer aided design]] (CAD) or [[animation]] [[modeling software]], transforms them into thin, virtual, horizontal cross-sections and then creates successive layers until the model is complete. It is a [[WYSIWYG]] process where the virtual model and the physical model are almost identical.

With additive manufacturing, the machine reads in data from a CAD drawing and lays down successive layers of liquid, powder, or sheet material, and in this way builds up the model from a series of cross sections. These layers, which correspond to the virtual cross section from the CAD model, are joined together or fused automatically to create the final shape. The primary advantage to additive fabrication is its ability to create almost any shape or geometric feature.

The standard data [[Interface (computer science)|interface]] between CAD software and the machines is the [[STL (file format)|STL file format]]. An STL file approximates the shape of a part or assembly using triangular facets. Smaller facets produce a higher quality surface.

The word "rapid" is relative: construction of a model with contemporary methods can take from several hours to several days, depending on the method used and the size and complexity of the model. Additive systems for rapid prototyping can typically produce models in a few hours, although it can vary widely depending on the type of machine being used and the size and number of models being produced simultaneously.

Some [[solid freeform fabrication]] techniques use two materials in the course of constructing parts. The first material is the part material and the second is the support material (to support overhanging features during construction). The support material is later removed by heat or dissolved away with a solvent or water.

Traditional [[injection molding]] can be less expensive for manufacturing polymer products in high quantities, but additive fabrication can be faster and less expensive when producing relatively small quantities of parts. [[3D printer]]s give designers and concept development teams the ability to produce parts and concept models using a desktop size printer.

Rapid prototyping is now entering the field of [[rapid manufacturing]] and it is believed by many experts that this is a "next level" technology.<ref>Wohlers Report 2009, State of the Industry Annual Worldwide Progress Report on Additive Manufacturing, Wohlers Associates, 2009, http://www.wohlersassociates.com/, ISBN 0-9754429-5-3</ref>

==Technologies==
[[File:Rapid prototyping worldwide by Zureks.png|thumb|right|250px|Rapid prototyping worldwide<ref>D. T. Pham, S. S. Dimov, Rapid manufacturing, Springer-Verlag, 2001, ISBN 1-85233-360-X, page 6</ref>]]
[[Image:I robot car.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The [[Audi RSQ]] was made by Audi with rapid prototyping industrial [[KUKA]] robots]]

A large number of competing technologies are available in the marketplace. As all are additive technologies, their main differences are found in the way layers are built to create parts. Some are melting or softening material to produce the layers ([[selective laser sintering|SLS]], [[fused deposition modeling|FDM]]) where others are laying liquid materials [[thermosets]] that are [[Curing (chemistry)|cured]] with different technologies. In the case of lamination systems, thin layers are cut to shape and joined together.

As of 2005, conventional rapid prototype machines cost around £25,000.<ref>http://www.bath.ac.uk/pr/releases/replicating-machines.htm</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
!Prototyping technologies
!Base materials
|-
|[[Selective laser sintering]] (SLS)
|[[Thermoplastics]], [[metals]] powders
|-
|[[Fused deposition modeling]] (FDM)
|[[Thermoplastics]], [[eutectic]] metals.
|-
|[[Stereolithography]] (SLA)
|[[photopolymer]]
|-
|[[Laminated object manufacturing]] (LOM)
|[[Paper]]
|-
|[[Electron beam melting]] (EBM)
|[[Titanium alloy]]s
|-
|[[3D printing]] (3DP)
|Various materials
|}

In 2006, [[John Balistreri]] and others at [[Bowling Green State University]] began research into 3D Rapid Prototyping machines, creating printed ceramic art objects. This research has led to the invention of ceramic powders and binder systems that enable [[clay]] material to be printed from a computer model and [[kiln]] fired for the first time.

==See also==

* [[3D microfabrication]]
* [[3D printing]]
* [[Additive manufacturing]]
* [[Desktop manufacturing]]
* [[Digital fabricator]]
* [[Direct digital manufacturing]]
* [[Direct metal laser sintering]]
* [[Fab lab]]
* [[Fused deposition modeling]]
* [[Instant manufacturing]], also known as "direct manufacturing" or "on-demand manufacturing"
* [[Laser engineered net shaping]]
* [[MeshLab]], a [[free software|free]] and [[open-source software|open-source]] Windows and Linux application for visualizing, processing and converting 3D meshes to or from the STL file format
* [[Rapid manufacturing]]
* [[RepRap Project]]: a free and open-source multi-material self-replicating rapid prototyping machine
* [[Selective laser sintering]]
* [[Solid freeform fabrication]]: a list of technologies used in rapid prototyping
* [[Stereolithography]]
* [[Von Neumann universal constructor]]

==References==
===Notes===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
<!--Hide dead link till investigated: *Grenda, E. (2006). ''[http://home.att.net/~castleisland/rp_int1.htm The Most Important Commercial Rapid Prototyping Technologies at a Glance]''. {{Dead link|date=May 2010}}-->
*Wright, Paul K. (2001). ''21st Century manufacturing''. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc.

==External links==
*{{dmoz|Science/Technology/Manufacturing/Prototyping/Rapid_Prototyping|Rapid prototyping websites}}

<!--===========================({{NoMoreLinks}})===============================
    | PLEASE BE CAUTIOUS IN ADDING MORE LINKS TO THIS ARTICLE. WIKIPEDIA IS   |
    | NOT A COLLECTION OF LINKS.                                              |
    |                                                                         | 
    |               Excessive or inappropriate links WILL BE DELETED.         |
    |  See [[Wikipedia:External links]] and [[Wikipedia:Spam]] for details.   |
    |                                                                         | 
    | If there are already plentiful links, please propose additions or       |
    | replacements on this article's discussion page.  Or submit your link    |
    | to the appropriate category at the Open Directory Project (www.dmoz.org)|
    | and link back to that category using the {{dmoz}} template.             |
    ===========================({{NoMoreLinks}})===============================-->

[[Category:Product management]]
[[Category:Solid freeform fabrication]]
[[Category:Robots]]

[[az:Prototiplərin sürətli hazırlanması]]
[[cs:Rapid prototyping]]
[[de:Rapid Prototyping]]
[[es:Prototipado rápido]]
[[fa:نمونه‌سازی سریع]]
[[fr:Prototypage rapide]]
[[it:Prototipazione rapida]]
[[lv:Ātrā prototipēšana]]
[[nl:Rapid prototyping]]
[[ja:ラピッドプロトタイピング]]
[[no:Rapid Prototyping]]
[[pl:Rapid prototyping]]
[[ru:Быстрое прототипирование]]
[[sl:Hitra izdelava prototipov]]
[[tr:Hızlı prototipleme]]
[[Category:2Fix]]