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Glossary

Rapid Prototyping

Rapid prototyping

Demands on technologies that shorten development times are growing continuously. Rapid prototyping systems from RAMPF Tooling Solutions are making an important contribution to reducing time-to-market.
 

As the name implies, rapid prototyping is a particularly fast process for manufacturing prototypes and functional parts. Applications include:

Prototypes

  • Display models / initial samples
  • Design studies

Functional parts

  • Form testing
  • Functionality testing
  • Suitability testing
  • Simulation of series materials

Pilot production

Small series

  • Vehicle add-on parts
  • Housings for medical technology

Shortening development times

This technology saves users time and money, because it helps shorten development times, prevent development and design faults that can be costly, simplify design modifications, and improve products at an early design stage. It is hard to imagine the fast, cost-effective, and customized manufacture of models, prototypes, tools, molds, and end products today without rapid prototyping.

Imitating thermoplastics

In contrast to conventional modeling materials, the RAKU® TOOL polyurethane products offer a simple and fast solution for imitating thermoplastics such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS). Unlike thermoplastics, RAKU® TOOL rapid prototyping systems are cost-effective even for small quantities. This is because thermoplastics are processed using injection molding, which is often only economical for larger quantities, as the investment required for metal molds and the setup costs are too high for small quantities. Another advantage of rapid prototyping systems is that they are not limited to use with small parts – they can also be used to produce large parts such as bumpers.