Rapid prototyping refers to one or several prototypes made first according to the product appearance drawings or structure drawings for checking the appearance or structure reasonableness without opening the mould. With the development of technology, the definition and use of the handpiece has expanded, and it is now more often used to test and validate products, optimise product design, and even used directly as a finished product.

Historical Background and Definition

Rapid prototyping technology originated in the 1980s, initially to solve the problems in traditional manufacturing methods, such as high cost and long cycle time. With the development of technology, rapid prototyping has gradually matured and has been widely used in various fields. It is not only suitable for product development, but also has a wide range of applications in software applications, architectural design and other fields.

Process
Rapid prototyping processes include a variety of technologies such as Stereolithography (SLA), Fusion Deposition Modeling (FDM) and others. SLA technology initiates the polymerisation of photosensitive resins by means of a light source of a specific wavelength to form polymers, while FDM technology involves the extrusion of melted material in layers. In addition, traditional moulding methods such as vacuum infusion, low pressure casting and CNC machining are also widely used in the production of handmade boards.
1.3D printing: Prototypes are created using a 3D printer by adding material layer by layer. This method allows for fast, low-cost prototyping of products with complex structures.
2.CNC machining: Cutting and engraving of materials by means of computer numerically controlled machines, suitable for prototypes requiring high precision and complex shapes.
3.Vacuum casting: Liquid material is injected into the mould using a mould and then cured into shape, suitable for validation prior to mass production.
4.Rapid tooling: Creation of moulds by means of rapid tooling technology, followed by series production.
5.Injection molding: Mass reproduction using injection moulding machines for situations where mass production is required.

Material
There is also a wide selection of materials for rapid prototyping, with common ones such as photosensitive resin and nylon. For small batch production, vacuum casting process can be used, using materials such as ABS and PMMA for replication, followed by subsequent processing such as sanding and spraying with oil. For metal parts, the machining services are mostly used.

Advantages
1.Rapid outputs: Compared to traditional manufacturing methods, rapid prototyping can complete prototyping in a short period of time, greatly reducing product development cycles which suitable for low volume manufacturing.
2.Low cost: 3D printing technology, in particular, allows for the low-cost production of complex structural prototypes and small batches.
3.High flexibility: Can be prototyped using a wide range of materials and techniques, adapting to different design needs.
4.High precision: The ability to accurately replicate the structure, detail and texture of a prototype provides a surface quality.
5.Variety of materials: Polyurethane materials with different properties such as rigid, elastic, transparent or various coloured materials can be selected according to requirements.

Applications
1.Manufacturing and Industrial Applications
Rapid prototyping technology enables the rapid production of complex and accurate prototypes, helping designers and engineers to validate design concepts, perform functional testing and evaluate appearance. For parts that need to be produced in small quantities, it offers a cost-effective and flexible solution.
2.Automobile industry
Automakers use rapid prototyping technology to rapidly develop prototype automotive parts for performance testing and validation.In addition, it enables the manufacture of personalised automotive parts, such as dashboard panels and door handles, and is used for production tooling.
3.Medical field
Rapid prototyping technology enables personalized medical devices, implants and prosthetics to be tailored to a patient's body structure, providing better fit and comfort.In the field of bioprinting, it is used for research in tissue engineering and organ transplantation.
4.Others
Rapid prototyping also plays an important role in a number of industries, including aerospace, consumer electronics, and artwork creation, and its applications will become more widespread as technology advances and costs are reduced.

Rapid Prototyping is the process of creating a simple model of a product or project in the early stages of development so that it can be used to validate and test design concepts, features and interfaces. It is a method of rapidly building physical prototypes and iterating on a design with few changes to improve the design.