Rapid Network

Rapid prototyping denotes that automatic generation of objects by use of solid free form fabrication. The inception of the concept in 1980s saw the production of various forms of models as well prototype parts. The rapid prototyping concept has spread across various domains and features in numerous applications. Rapid prototyping is also commonly used in the manufacturing domains where the concept is used for production quality parts in relatively low figures. In arts also, the concepts are used for instance by sculptors to generate complex design and shapes that are meant for fine art exhibitions.

Rapid Prototyping is based on virtual designs taken from computerized designs or computer Aided design (CAD) closely related to the animation modeling software. The concepts of rapid prototyping would then transform the virtual designs into thin horizontal cross sections, which then lead to the creation of cross sections in physical locations. These are created in succession until a point where the whole model is complete.

In rapid prototyping, additive fabrication facilitates the reading of data from a CAD drawing by the machine. The machine will then get into a layering process where either, powder, sheet or liquid material in layered in succession. This is how a model in actually generated from a series of cross section representations. The feasibility of the methodology is that the layers which are done in correspondence with the virtual cross section from the CAD model are brought together and blended automatically to generate the final shape. One remarkable aspects of additive technology is its dynamism, which can be used to generate any shape or geometric feature.

In rapid prototyping the term 'rapid' is used relatively. The reality is that the generation of the desired model with available methods and procedures can talk many hours or even stretch to a number of days in tandem with the method adopted as well as the size and the complexity of the desired model. The term 'rapid' is thus used in a relative sense considering that the additive technologies can in some instance be produced desired models in hours but again it will depend on the type of a machine being used, the size of model in focus as well as the number of models to be generated simultaneously in cases of multiple model production.

Convectional injection molding is known to be more cost effective especially in manufacturing polymer products in large volumes. On the other end additive technology is also known to be speedy and cost effective in the cases where there is a production of relatively small quantities of parts. The remarkable merit of rapid prototyping is that it has enabled designers as well theme or concept modeling teams to generate components or parts as well concepts representations by use of convenient and portable desktop size printers. Printing and design technologies abound in the market yet rapid prototyping cashes in on the merits of cost effectiveness and speedy print out put and premium quality, which give designers and concept developers the real sense, and representation of their design models.