Prototyping History and Prototype Development Information
Prototyping
History and the process of Rapid Prototyping is discussed along with a long
explanation of the history of rapid prototyping.
Rapid prototyping is a revolutionary and powerful technology
with wide range of applications. The process of prototyping involves quick
building up of a prototype or working model for the purpose of testing the
various design features, ideas, concepts, functionality, output and
performance. The user is able to give immediate feedback regarding the
prototype and its performance. Rapid prototyping is essential part of the
process of system designing and it is believed to be quite beneficial as far as
reduction of project cost and risk are concerned.
Rapid prototyping is known by many terms as per the
technologies involved, like SFF or solid freeform fabrication, FF or freeform
fabrication, digital fabrication, AFF or automated freeform fabrication, 3D
printing, solid imaging, layer-based manufacturing, laser prototyping and
additive manufacturing.
History of Rapid
Prototyping:
Sixties: The
first rapid prototyping techniques became accessible in the later eighties and
they were used for production of prototype and model parts. The history of
rapid prototyping can be traced to the late sixties, when an engineering
professor, Herbert Voelcker, questioned himself about the possibilities
of doing interesting things with the computer controlled and automatic machine
tools. These machine tools had just
started to appear on the factory floors then. Voelcker was trying to find a way
in which the automated machine tools could be programmed by using the output of
a design program of a computer.
Seventies: Voelcker
developed the basic tools of mathematics that clearly describe the three
dimensional aspects and resulted in the earliest theories of algorithmic and
mathematical theories for solid modeling. These theories form the basis of
modern computer programs that are used for designing almost all things
mechanical, ranging from the smallest toy car to the tallest skyscraper. Volecker’s theories changed the designing
methods in the seventies, but, the old methods for designing were still very
much in use. The old method involved either a machinist or machine tool
controlled by a computer. The metal hunk was cut away and the needed part
remained as per requirements.
Eighties: However,
in 1987, Carl Deckard, a researcher form the University of Texas, came up with
a good revolutionary idea. He pioneered the layer based manufacturing, wherein
he thought of building up the model layer by layer. He printed 3D models by
utilizing laser light for fusing metal powder in solid prototypes, single layer
at a time. Deckard developed this idea
into a technique called “Selective Laser Sintering?. The results of this
technique were extremely promising. The history of rapid prototyping is quite
new and recent. However, as this technique of rapid prototyping has such wide
ranging scope and applications with amazing results, it has grown by leaps and
bounds.
Voelcker’s and Deckard’s stunning findings, innovations and
researches have given extreme impetus to this significant new industry known as
rapid prototyping or free form fabrication. It has revolutionized the designing
and manufacturing processes.
Though, there are many references of people pioneering the
rapid prototyping technology, the industry gives recognition to Charles Hull
for the patent of Apparatus for Production of 3D Objects by Stereolithography.
Charles Hull is recognized by the industry as the father of rapid prototyping.
Present-day Rapid Prototyping: Today , the computer engineer has to simply
sketch the ideas on the computer screen with the help of a design program that
is computer aided. Computer aided designing allows to make modification as
required and you can create a physical prototype that is a precise and proper
3D object.
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Tags: aff, basic tools, computer programs, design features, dimensional aspects, factory floors, features ideas, interesting things, laser prototyping, machine tools, mathematical theories, modern computer, powerful technology, professor herbert, rapid prototyping techniques, sixties, solid freeform fabrication, solid modeling, trying to find a way, working model
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