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