Design and rapid product evolution

Abstract

Designing freeform surfaces and renderings for communication purposes. Nowadays, technological advances in CAD/CAM and Rapid Prototyping (RP) systems demand the integration of CAD models in the industrial downstream processes. Rapid Prototyping systems emerged in 1987 and are closer to the revolutionary concept "a factory in a box". These new technologies are becoming a powerful tool for concurrent engineering, creating in this way a new competitive edge. Economic concept modellers are now commercially available and supported by Internet infrastructures, can play an important role in the future evolution and market demand of these additives manufacturing processes. The aim of this study is to present a survey of the historical and future evolution of RP technologies and the specific implications in the design methodology.