ABSTRACT
The term ‘rapid prototyping’ is used to describe the fabrication technology that has advanced primarily since the 1980s for building models, prototypes or components directly from a computer component design [1-8]. Such processing is also referred to generally as ‘solid free-form fabrication’, ‘direct deposition’, ‘layered manufacturing’ and ‘automated fabrication’. With this technology component shapes are formed in a single step from a three-dimensional computer model by additively stacking planar layers of deposited material. In contrast, subtractive processes, such as computer numerical control machining, remove material to form a component. Rapid prototyping requires only a motion path or deposition control code, developed from a solid model, to deposit material where desired to reproduce the design in solid form. Comparatively, conventional processing requires moulds, dies or exterior fixtures combined with pressing, extrusion, rolling, stamping, casting or forging equipment to force material into a desired shape for a particular application.
