The use of rapid prototyping models has become an integral part of the digital product development process chain.
Initially used as concept models in the early stages of development, high-quality components made from plastics or metal alloys are now being used in small production runs. Rapid manufacturing represents the latest development in this field.
In all product development phases, rapid prototyping can be used to verify function, proportions, ergonomics, handling and design. Variant studies can also be completed quickly and easily without tooling or programming costs, and made available to user groups for evaluation.
These technologies enable the production of simple, higher-quality and more precise plastic models, right through to fully-fledged components made from various metal alloys and ceramics.