ABSTRACT
3D printing (3DP) is an example of such technology, which is revolutionizing the design and manufacturing of new products. Rapid prototyping (RP) is a technology that also refers to the fabrication of 3D part of an arbitrary shape directly from a numerical description by a quick, totally automated, and flexible process. A series of new technologies that are available in the market are reviewed. These technologies allow "automatic" production of prototype parts directly from a solid model. For digital manufacturing applications, the key 3D printer characteristics are high accuracy, precision and repeatability, material properties, specialized paint materials specifically engineered for application requirements, part cost, and production capacity. 3DP technologies are already being used in pharmaceutical research and fabrication, and they promise to be transformative. 3DP is a relatively new technology that is impacting the way that new products are manufactured. Despite some challenges and difficulties, 3DP technology is a continuous improvement.
