Rapid Prototyping (RP) has revolutionized the landscape of how prototypes and products are made and small batch manufacturing carried out. This book gives a comprehensive coverage of RP and rapid tooling processes, data formats and applications. A CD-ROM, included in the book, presents RP and its principles in an interactive way to augment the learning experience.Special features:

Rapid prototyping technology has become a powerful tool for rapid product development in almost every branch of industry. Many new and upcoming processes offer means for the fast creation of models with steadily increasing accuracy, build speed, model properties, and economic advantages. This book encourages engineers to incorporate rapid prototyping in their daily routine. It illustrates the benefits that come with the use of models at any stage of the product development process and defines the different types of models. It covers the fundamentals of rapid prototyping and the special capabilities of prototypers. It shows how digital production based on low volume rapid prototyped samples can be realized.

This book provides a baseline of rapid prototyping technologies to guide users and business leaders through the evaluation, justification, and implementation process. Rapid prototyping is a powerful tool for design, engineering and manufacturing, and is used in nearly every industry that manufactures mechanical components. This book fills the knowledge gap for the industry novice through an in-depth analysis of the various rapid prototyping technologies and processes. It also covers the technology's strengths, limitations, benefits and associated costs to aid the decision making process. Also included are comparisons to other processes such as CNC machining. In an age where better, faster, cheaper is the mantra for product development, this book offers invaluable information that will help you decide if rapid prototyping is the right tool to solve your specific design and manufacturing challenges.

Rapid Prototyping of Biomaterials: Principles and Applications provides a comprehensive review of established and emerging rapid prototyping technologies (such as bioprinting) for medical applications. Rapid prototyping, also known as layer manufacturing, additive manufacturing, solid freeform fabrication, or 3D printing, can be used to create complex structures and devices for medical applications from solid, powder, or liquid precursors. Following a useful introduction, which provides an overview of the field, the book explores rapid prototyping of nanoscale biomaterials, biosensors, artificial organs, and prosthetic limbs. Further chapters consider the use of rapid prototyping technologies for the processing of viable cells, scaffolds, and tissues. With its distinguished editor and international team of renowned contributors, Rapid Prototyping of Biomaterials is a useful technical resource for scientists and researchers in the biomaterials and tissue regeneration industry, as well as in academia. - Comprehensive review of established and emerging rapid prototyping technologies (such as bioprinting) for medical applications - Chapters explore rapid prototyping of nanoscale biomaterials, biosensors, artificial organs, and prosthetic limbs - Examines the use of rapid prototyping technologies for the processing of viable cells, scaffolds, and tissues

Rapid prototyping is an exciting new technology used to create physical models and functional prototypes directly from CAD models. Rapid tooling concerns the production of tooling using parts manufactured by rapid prototyping. The book describes the characteristics and capabilities of the main known rapid prototyping processes. It covers in detail various commercially available processes such as: Stereolithography (SLA), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), and others. The text places a strong emphasis on practical applications and contains an abundance of photographs and diagrams to illustrate clearly the principles of the machines and processes involved.

This book covers in detail the various aspects of joining materials to form parts. A conceptual overview of rapid prototyping and layered manufacturing is given, beginning with the fundamentals so that readers can get up to speed quickly. Unusual and emerging applications such as micro-scale manufacturing, medical applications, aerospace, and rapid manufacturing are also discussed. This book provides a comprehensive overview of rapid prototyping technologies as well as support technologies such as software systems, vacuum casting, investment casting, plating, infiltration and other systems. This book also: Reflects recent developments and trends and adheres to the ASTM, SI, and other standards Includes chapters on automotive technology, aerospace technology and low-cost AM technologies Provides a broad range of technical questions to ensure comprehensive understanding of the concepts covered

Since the dawn of civilization, mankind has been engaged in the conception and manufacture of discrete products to serve the functional needs of local customers and the tools (technology) needed by other craftsmen. In fact, much of the progress in civilization can be attributed to progress in discrete product manufacture. The functionality of a discrete object depends on two entities: form, and material composition. For instance, the aesthetic appearance of a sculpture depends upon its form whereas its durability depends upon the material composition. An ideal manufacturing process is one that is able to automatically generate any form (freeform) in any material. However, unfortunately, most traditional manufacturing processes are severely constrained on all these counts. There are three basic ways of creating form: conservative, subtractive, and additive. In the first approach, we take a material and apply the needed forces to deform it to the required shape, without either adding or removing material, i. e. , we conserve material. Many industrial processes such as forging, casting, sheet metal forming and extrusion emulate this approach. A problem with many of these approaches is that they focus on form generation without explicitly providing any means for controlling material composition. In fact, even form is not created directly. They merely duplicate the external form embedded in external tooling such as dies and molds and the internal form embedded in cores, etc. Till recently, we have had to resort to the 'subtractive' approach to create the form of the tooling.

"Engineering Design and Rapid Prototyping" offers insight into the methods and techniques that allow for easily implementing engineering designs by incorporating advanced methodologies and technologies. This book contains advanced topics such as feature-based design and process planning, modularity and rapid manufacturing, along with a collection of the latest methods and technologies currently being utilized in the field. The volume also: -Provides axiomatic design and solution methodologies for both design and manufacturing -Discusses product life cycle development and analysis for ease of manufacture and assembly -Offers applied methods and technologies in rapid prototyping, tooling and manufacturing "Engineering Design and Rapid Prototyping" will be extremely valuable for any engineers and researchers and students working in engineering design.

This turnkey technology source provides an introduction to rapid prototyping and manufacturing (RP&M) with emphasis on Stereolithography which represents the majority of all rapid prototyping systems currently in place. The content is based on theory, analysis and experiment with extensive test data, including select case studies from the automotive, simultaneous engineering, and medical sectors.

More quality, more flexibility, and less costs seem to be the key to meeting the demands of the global marketplace. The secret to success in this arena lies in the expert execution of the critical tasks in the product definition stage. Prototyping is an essential part of this stage, yet can be very expensive. It must be planned well and use state-o