Rapid manufacturing
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rapid manufacturing is a technique for manufacturing solid objects by the sequential delivery of energy and/or material to specified points in space to produce that part. Current practice is to control the manufacturing process by computer using a mathematical model created with the aid of a computer. Rapid manufacturing done in parallel batch production provides a large advantage in speed and cost overhead compared to alternative manufacturing techniques such as laser ablation or die casting. The true definition of rapid manufacturing involves the production of series products or the use of the created part in production (see Hopkins, Hague and Dickens, 2005). Where the part is used in the development process only then the appropriate term is rapid prototyping.
Rapid manufacturing for large products with layer based manufacturing from metals, ceramics, and polymers is well known for several industrial applications in the military (MPH-Optomec) and aerospace (Boeing) sectors. Small products and microsystem applications are known in medical (Siemens) as well as diagnostics and sensor technologies (microTEC).
[edit] References
- Hopkinson, N. , Hague, R. , Dickens, P. (2005). Rapid Manufacturing (Abstract). Germany: Wiley-VCH.
- Wright, Paul K. (2001). 21st Century manufacturing. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- RM-Platform.com The European collaboration on Rapid Manufactoring.
- microTEC RM for MEMS since 1996
- MINAM
- Rapid Manufacturing Research Group at the Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at Loughborough University
- Rapid manufacturing supplier ProtoCAM provides info on resins, characteristics, benefits, examples, and materials
- Manufacturing Engineering Centre (MEC), Cardiff University, UK. Rapid Manufacturing Research and Services.
