3D Prototyping

2288 Words5 Pages

Introduction

3D Prototyping plays a vital role in industry. While simulations allow complex analysis nothing compares to being able to hold a model in one’s hand. This used to be possible only for major companies or required a long time delay, but the development of 3D printers has allowed for a renaissance in rapid 3D prototyping. With small form factor and the ability to print many materials, the use of these machines are on the rise. It is only a matter of time until every household has one capable of producing any part required.

Historical Background and Process of Invention

Technical progress has always relied on mechanisms to advance. These mechanisms, be they mechanical or electrical, have been needed in great quantities. Although produced in great quantities, the quality of each part must not degrade.

In the beginning the only tools available for manufacturing were hand tools. While a blacksmith was highly skilled and could produce parts of a high caliber it was still very time consuming. With the introduction of the first milling machine in the early 1900’s, manufacturing ability grew dramatically. These milling machines, still operated by skilled technicians, allowed companies to turn out parts at a rate capable of meeting the demand of the Industrial Revolution.

While milling machines provided the ability to create precision parts, significant man-labor and skill was required. Even with the advent of gear mechanisms allowing laborers to automate the milling of simple sections too much time was lost. The advent of the CNC mill changed all this. A CNC mill, or computer numerically controlled mill, was a mill completely under computer control. A design could be constructed inside a computer and using a lan...

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Works Cited

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Mironov, Vladimir, Thomas Boland, Thomas Trusk, Gabor Forgacs, and Roger R. Markwald. "Organ Printing: Computer-aided Jet-based 3D Tissue Engineering." Trends in Biotechnology 21.4 (2010): 157-61. Science Direct. Web. 22 Feb. 2010.

Noorani, Rafiq. Rapid Prototyping : Principles and Applications. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley, 2006. Print.

Sells, Ed. Rapid Prototyped Electronic Circuits. Tech. RepRap, 1 Nov. 2004. Web. 28 Feb. 2010. .

Woodbury, Robert S. History of the Milling Machine; A Study in Technical Development. Cambridge: Technology, 1960. Print.

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