Rapid Prototyping
Physical model that directly represents the component is much better than pure computer visualization .Real component helps in obtaining the necessary information for manufacturing information generation.Rapid prototyping is a means through which the product geometry as modelled in the earlier stages is directly utilized to get the physical shape of the component.
RP refers to a variety of spicialized equipment,software and material capable by using 3D CAD design data (as well as 3D scan data) input to directly fabricate geometrically complex objects.Rapid prototyping technologies generally based upon a layered manufacturing concept.In this method, a 3D model of the object in CAD is first decomposed in to cross-sectional layer representations of very small thickness.The system then generates trajectories for the material to be added in each layer by the RP machine.The sacrifical supporting layer from above is then deposited and fused to the previous layer using one of the many available deposition and fusion technologies.
The Basic methodology for all current RP Technique Can Be Summarized as follows:
" A CAD model is constructed ad then converted to STL (standard triangular language )format:
" The RP device processes the STL file by creating sliced layeres of the model.The resolution of future model diredtly depends on quality of the layers or,since all layers must have identical thickness,on the layer's thichness.
" The first layer of the physical model is created,the model I then lowered by the one layer thichness,and the process is repeated until completion of the model;
" The model and any supports are removed;the surface of the model is then finished and cleaned.
Machining also can be considered as rapid prototyping,though it requires custom fixturing and has inherent geometric limitations.Still,machining can be effective in many rapid prototyping applications.
