The term Rapid Tooling (RT) is used to describe a process which either uses a Rapid Prototyping (RP) technique as a medium to create a mold quickly or uses the Rapid Prototyping process directly to fabricate a tool for a limited volume of prototypes. RT takes less tooling time and cost than a conventional tool. It can be used to make multiple parts out of alternative materials. The rapid tooling processes include the following:
* Composite Injection
* Kirksite Injection
* Silicone Vacuum Cast
* Zinc and Aluminum Plaster Cast
* Spray Metal Injection
* Sand Cast
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Rapid prototyping (RP) and rapid tooling (RT) technologies, processes and developments have changed over the years, but there is one thing that has remained constant: the challenge to get functional prototypes and a method to obtain low-volume production parts fast, without breaking the bank.
The race in rapid tooling to get either functional prototypes or low-volume production parts has created many methods of rapid tooling, which have worked well and not so well. The downside to each of these methods has been the consistency and the lack of broad use from application to application.
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The process of rapid prototyping is exactly like it sounds: prototypes of products are quickly produced so that companies can move forward with final production. Having begun in the 1980’s, rapid prototyping is relatively new. But in the almost three decades since its inception, it has grown from producing models and prototype parts alone to being used by sculptors for art exhibits and used by manufacturing companies to produce market ready parts in small numbers. In the past, rapid prototyping was conducted using traditional data surveying methods that resulted in 2D drawings that were less accurate than the data results produced by today’s preferred method of data collection for rapid-prototyping: 3D digitization, or laser scanning.
Due to their ability to produce data models that can be directly manufactured from, 3D laser scanning services are primarily associated with the traditional engineering and reverse engineering processes. However, the use of additive manufacturing technology in contemporary rapid-prototyping also requires the aid of laser scanning, particularly in the form of solid CAD models. Laser scanning produces three types of data models: polygon mesh models, surface models and solid CAD models. Polygon mesh models-also known as mesh models-are virtually un-editable, and are typically used for archiving or product visualization. Surface models are more editable than mesh models, but are only editable at their surface, making them ideal for modeling artistic and organic shapes. Solid CAD models, on the other hand, can incorporate design intent.
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