ON THE EVOLUTION OF RAPID PROTOTYPING TECHNOLOGIES

 

Zoltan-Gabor BAKI-HARI, Carmen Gabriela BĂCILĂ

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Abstract: Two decades ago, once with the appearance of Rapid Prototyping Technologies (RPT), the design activity was radically changed, as well as the products developing of the products. Thus became true the great dream of the designers to see their activity materialized as soon as possible. But they went on dreaming about more rapid, precise and cheap methods. Nowadays these dreams come true, as newer and newer RP methods appear, with superior performances. This is the result of the research and development activities made in all the corners of the world. Thus different methods were combined; new materials were adapted, till the applicability of these technologies was extended almost to infinite, from the different branches of mechanical engineering to medicine.

 

Key words: rapid prototyping, rapid manufacturing, rapid tooling, product development, CAD/CAM/CAE, STL.