Modern Trends in Rapid Prototyping for Biomedical Applications

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. Rapid prototyping is a revolutionary and powerful technology with wide range of applications. The importance of rapid prototyping is to quickly fabricate complex-shaped, 3D parts directly from computer aided design models, which is based upon decomposition of 3D computer models data into thin cross-sectional layers, followed by physically forming the layers and stacking them up; "layer by layer technique". The process of prototyping involves quick building up of a prototype or working models for the purpose of testing the various design features, ideas, concepts, functionality, output and performance. This paper covers possibilities of using RP technologies based on biomaterial. Using RP in biomedical is a quite complex task which implies a multidisciplinary approach and very good knowledge of engineering as well as medicine. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.