Rapid Prototyping: Principles and Applications

Rapid prototyping (RP) has revolutionized how prototypes are made and small batch manufacturing is carried out. With rapid prototyping, the strategies used to produce a part change a number of important considerations and limitations previously faced by tool designers and engineers. Now in its third edition, this textbook is still the definitive text on RP. It covers the key RP processes, the available models and specifications, and their principles, materials, advantages and disadvantages. Examples of application areas in design, planning, manufacturing, biomedical engineering, art and architecture are also given. The book includes several related problems so that the reader can test his or her understanding of the topics. New to this edition, the included CD-ROM presents animated illustrations of the working principles of today's key RP processes.

"This book sits in a special place on my bookshelf. If you don't have it, get it. Thank you, Professors Chua, Leong and Lim, for producing such an outstanding book ..." -- Terry Wohlers, President of Wohlers Associates, Inc, Colorado, USA

"To date, this is the only published text on RP that can be recommended to undergraduate students. Whenever I start my students off on a project that involves RP, and they say 'what is RP?', this is the book I give them to read. This book is an excellent introduction to RP." -- Dr Ian Gibson, Co-Editor of Rapid Prototyping Journal, MCB Press, UK