Rapid Prototyping

Rapid prototyping is the most common name given to a host of related technologies that are used to fabricate physical objects directly from CAD data sources. These methods are unique in that they add and bond materials in layers to form objects, and include additive fabrication, three dimensional printing(3DP), solid freeform fabrication(SFF) and layered manufacturing. They are also often referred to as synonyms for the entire field, such as stereolithography(SLA for stereolithography apparatus), selective laser sintering (SLS), fused deposition modeling (FDM), laminated object manufacturing (LOM) and inkjet systems.

Today's additive technologies offer advantages in many applications, compared to classical subtractive fabrication methods such as milling or turning:

• Objects can be formed with any geometric complexity or intricacy without the need for elaborate machine setup or final assembly.
• Rapid prototyping systems reduce the construction of complex objects to a manageable, straightforward and relatively fast process.

This has resulted in their wide use by engineers as a way to reduce time to market in manufacturing better understand and communicate product designs and make rapid tooling to manufacture parts or objects of even moderately complex geometry.

At the Bimac Corporation we primarily uses two processes: Three-Dimensional Printing and Stereolithography.