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
Sintering". 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.
Subscribe to this comment's feed