Rapid prototyping (RP) or rapid prototyping manufacturing (RPM) technology refers to the general term for the rapid manufacturing of three-dimensional entities of arbitrarily complex shapes under the direct drive of CAD models. The technology was developed in the 1990s. For manufacturing enterprises, it serves as a key common technology for developing new products. It is conducive to promoting enterprise product innovation, shortening the development cycle of new products, and improving product competitiveness.
The advantage of Rapid prototyping will be that it can directly accept product design (CAD) data without preparing any molds, tools, and fixtures, and quickly manufacture new product samples, molds or models. As a result, popularizing and applying RP technology can improve the quality of development, shorten the development cycle of new products, and reduce costs. From the traditional “removal method” to today’s “growth method”, from mold manufacturing to moldless manufacturing, this is the revolutionary significance of RP technology for manufacturing.
