Division of Rapid Prototyping Procedures

The new strategies in the development of new products are in very close relationship with the two keywords: simultaneous engineering and rapid prototyping. There are a lot of procedures today which based on a 3D model, its geometry and topological data enable the making of physical or virtual prototypes as quickly as possible using a particular automatic technologic process. According to the VDID (Verband deutscher Idustriedesigner) definition, there are six different model types. Prototypes can be divided in reproductive and process prototypes. The rapid prototyping procedures known today can be divided in two different ways: based on input material type, and based on shape forming.