Prototyping History and Prototype Development Information
Prototyping History and Prototype Development Information
Rapid prototyping is a revolutionary and powerful technology with wide
range of applications. The process of prototyping involves quick
building up of a prototype or working model for the purpose of testing
the various design features, ideas, concepts, functionality, output and
performance. The user is able to give immediate feedback regarding the
prototype and its performance. Rapid prototyping is essential part of
the process of system designing and it is believed to be quite
beneficial as far as reduction of project cost and risk are concerned.
Rapid prototyping is known by many terms as per the technologies
involved, like SFF or solid freeform fabrication, FF or freeform
fabrication, digital fabrication, AFF or automated freeform
fabrication, 3D printing, solid imaging, layer-based manufacturing,
laser prototyping and additive manufacturing.
History of Rapid Prototyping:
Sixties: The first rapid prototyping techniques became accessible in
the later eighties and they were used for production of prototype and
model parts. The history of rapid prototyping can be traced to the late
sixties, when an engineering professor, Herbert Voelcker, questioned
himself about the possibilities of doing interesting things with the
computer controlled and automatic machine tools. These machine tools
had just started to appear on the factory floors then. Voelcker was
trying to find a way in which the automated machine tools could be
programmed by using the output of a design program of a computer.
Seventies: Voelcker developed the basic tools of mathematics that
clearly describe the three dimensional aspects and resulted in the
earliest theories of algorithmic and mathematical theories for solid
modeling. These theories form the basis of modern computer programs
that are used for designing almost all things mechanical, ranging from
the smallest toy car to the tallest skyscraper. Volecker’s theories
changed the designing methods in the seventies, but, the old methods
for designing were still very much in use. The old method involved
either a machinist or machine tool controlled by a computer. The metal
hunk was cut away and the needed part remained as per requirements.
Eighties: However, in 1987, Carl Deckard, a researcher form the
University of Texas, came up with a good revolutionary idea. He
pioneered the layer based manufacturing, wherein he thought of building
up the model layer by layer. He printed 3D models by utilizing laser
light for fusing metal powder in solid prototypes, single layer at a
time. Deckard developed this idea into a technique called “Selective
Laser Sinteringâ€. The results of this technique were extremely
promising. The history of rapid prototyping is quite new and recent.
However, as this technique of rapid prototyping has such wide ranging
scope and applications with amazing results, it has grown by leaps and
bounds.
Voelcker’s and Deckard’s stunning findings, innovations and
researches have given extreme impetus to this significant new industry
known as rapid prototyping or free form fabrication. It has
revolutionized the designing and manufacturing processes.
Though, there are many references of people pioneering the rapid
prototyping technology, the industry gives recognition to Charles Hull
for the patent of Apparatus for Production of 3D Objects by
Stereolithography. Charles Hull is recognized by the industry as the
father of rapid prototyping.
Present-day Rapid Prototyping: Today, the computer engineer has to
simply sketch the ideas on the computer screen with the help of a
design program that is computer aided. Computer aided designing allows
to make modification as required and you can create a physical
prototype that is a precise and proper 3D object.
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