Rapid Prototyping Process
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Question 2 (b)
If you can get the Rapid Prototyping process to 20 days from its original 80 days, you can fabricate a model of scale belonging to a part or assembly scale. This can be achieved through a three-dimensional design, which has to be aided by data from a computer. This is often referred to as the initial Rapid Prototyping technique, or stereolithography. It was originally invented by the 3-Dimensional Valencia Systems, United States. This company was established in 1986. Since then, various Rapid Prototyping techniques have been developed (Keyte & Locher, 2004).
Shortening the duration for Rapid Prototyping would also play a useful role in the free-form manufacturing, layered manufacturing, as well as computer automated manufacturing. The ∆t that one saves RP can obviously be used as a visualization vehicle. Furthermore, shortened Rapid Prototyping models have been used to test many aspects. An example is the shape of an airfoil turned into a tunnel for trapping wind. Rapid Prototyping models can be shortened, and the ∆t obtained used to design male models for purposes of tooling. The tools would include investment cases and silicone rubber molds. In such cases, the Rapid Prototyping part is the last part, but usually the ∆t of the RP material is not accurate or strong enough. Nevertheless, highly convoluted RP shapes, including sections nested within sections can be made because of the flexible nature of the RP.
The 60 days you could save by shortening Rapid Prototyping will decrease development time. This will allow corrections to the product to be done early in the manufacturing process. By offering marketing, engineering, purchasing, and manufacturing a view at an item early in the manufacturing process, correction of mistakes is made possible, and alterations made while such correction is still cheap. Overall, the ∆t could be useful in diversifying the variants of products and increasing complexity of the product.