Rapid prototyping and tooling: A survey and applications

Abstract

With highly sophisticated computing power now available on the shop floor of production systems, new technologies are being introduced everyday. Among the emerging technologies that are making great strides toward reducing the cycle time in manufacturing is the areas of rapid prototyping (RP). RP is the process of rapid creation of a physical solid model (prototype) for an object from its design data without the use of tools or traditional manufacturing processes. The intent of this chapter is to provide an introduction to RP technologies, highlight the role of computers in making the technology feasible, and provide some results of applying the technology for the production of parts replacement in remote maintenance operations. This chapter discusses the technologies, namely, stereolithography, selective laser sintering, solid ground curing, fused decomposition modeling, and laminated object manufacturing. Rapid tooling techniques are discussed as an extension of rapid prototyping, though it is still at an experimental level. The application of the technologies involves the case of experimental rapid production of thermal tile replacements in the space shuttle.