Future Rapid Prototyping Processes

The speed with which rapid prototyping models have been devuped from limited demonstration models to functional parts and preseries tool inserts has been breathtaking. The objective of making the transition from the prototype to the component, that is, from the prototype tool to the production tool, or, very generally, from the prototype process to the production process, has not yet been achleved. Since, from the rapid prototyping point of view, conventional processes are also being constantly developed further (see, e.g., the HSC process, Section 3.3.7.1) the objective recedes into the distance. Intensive research and development in industry, universities, and associations, however, have closed the gap slowly. This chapter shows with some examples which problems are being worked on and which solutions are favored.