Monday, April 5, 2010

stereolithography

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Stereolithography Services - Widely Used Rapid Prototyping Technology

Monday, March 8, 2010

rapid prototyping software

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Rapid Prototyping Software - Why Should Hardware Have All the Fun?
By Ivan Irons



rapid prototypingWhat is rapid prototyping software?
The activity of rapid prototyping software is an important part of software development. It is important to create prototypes of the software to test the software's workings. These prototypes are actually incomplete versions of the software program that is underway in development.

How does rapid prototyping software work?
The main features of the software being prototyped are first looked at. In rapid prototyping software, the prototype being developed does not perform the entire functional spectrum of the software, but only simulates some of the aspects or features. The actual and eventual program may be very different from these simulations of it when it is actually implemented.

Why rapid prototyping software?
Conventionally, the purpose of rapid prototyping software is to let users of the eventual software an evaluation of the design proposals given by the developer. Users are allowed to actually try out the simulations so that they do not have to make an evaluation decision based solely on descriptions of the program and can actually get a sense of it before making a judgment.

Many a times, there are requirements that developers have not thought about that users might actually find useful. rapid prototyping software allows users to bring this to the notice of the developers and therefore betters the commercial relationship between the client and solution providers.

Benefits of rapid prototyping software
1. The designer and implementer of the software get to obtain feedback directly from the users who would be using the final product. Therefore, he can customize it to be a success right from its inception and increase its probability of becoming a hit.
2. Clients can actually do a match of the software specifications they have provided with the software being developed and therefore any changes that need to make can be done then itself.
3. The software engineer is given an opportunity to check on the accuracy of the initial project and whether planned deadlines and milestones can be achieved in time.
4. Since the 1970s, the techniques used in rapid prototyping software have been refined time after time to make them work with the efficiency that they do now.

Historically speaking
The process was present way back in the1960s itself. As can be assumed, the development cycle of an entire software program and its building was quite monolithic. Working out mismatches between the decided design, specifications and the finished implementable program would cause much waste of time, effort and money. This approach, also coined "Slaying the (software) Dragon" approach, puts all the pressure on the software designer who also then becomes the developer and he has to manage the entire "dragon" slaying by himself.

As time went by, easier methods to avoid these inconsistencies were found and therefore, saving cost, time and effort became possible. The finished software met not only the clients' specifications but was able to modify itself to users' benefit.

Friday, January 15, 2010

rapid prototyping tooling

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Rapid Tooling System - Technologies and Industrial Applications

Saturday, January 2, 2010

rapid prototyping machine

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Rapid Prototyping Machines
By Ivan Irons



rapid prototyping machineRapid prototyping machines are definitely considered high technology machining. The process that is required and that a rapid prototyping machine does is absolutely amazing. Computer generated and laid out, then sent to the machine to develop by constructing layers upon layers of materials until a final product is developed is definitely amazing.

So, how does all of this work? To begin with, you have to develop some kind of graphic, model, etc by using a computer program such as CAD (computer aided drafting). In this program you will design your "idea" and then the program will take cross sections, little by little, until the "idea" has been deconstructed. The program will then send the information to the machine, where the machine reconstructs the "idea" layer by layer until a final prototype is formed. Yes, this all is definitely confusing, but actually simple if you put it into layman's terms.

In layman's terms, imagine that you have an item (any item will work) and you have a 3D image of this on a computer program. You then use the program and show all of the cross sections of the image (lines going everywhere) and then each section is removed beginning at the top, going all the way down until nothing is left. The program then shoots the information over to the rapid prototyping machine where it begins to build the item back up, layer by layer.

The rapid prototyping machine uses materials such as liquid, powder or a sheet material and then lays this material down, layer by layer, cross section by cross section, all the way back up, until there is an actual model of the item that you had on your machine. You have literally taken an image on your computer screen and through technology you have now created the actual item itself, even though it may not be construction out of the right material. Basically, it is just a model of the item.

"Rapid" may not be the case. Depending upon what item you are creating, it can actually take several hours to several days to complete. Whatever the case maybe, this is just absolutely amazing technology.

Rapid prototyping machines are now being studied for the next new technology, and that is rapid manufacturing. Can you imagine what rapid manufacturing could create? Where will technology such as this take us next?

Rapid prototyping machines do cost a very pretty "penny", so to speak. But this type of technology does not come cheap and the possibilities of what can be created from it are unthinkable.

There are several manufacturers who offer rapid prototyping machines. To learn more about these amazing machines and the technology that is involved, contact one of the manufacturers. They can help to explain what this process really does consist of and can possibly even give you a demonstration of the machine. If this is something that you are very interested in adding to your shop then do contact a manufacturer and learn how you too, can take advantage of this technology.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

rapid prototyping services

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How to Find the Right Service Provider For Rapid Prototyping

Sunday, December 20, 2009

rapid prototyping

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Prototype Advantages and Rapid Prototyping Benefits