Difference between rapid prototyping and normal traditional prototyping

The prototype is the process of creating a sample product model that is to be tested in the real environment and serves as the basis for other processes. Traditional prototyping involves designing, developing, constructing and producing a model of our product, generally by designers and developers using a pen, pencil, and paper or a CAD design software file; while rapid prototyping manufacturing involves additive 3D printing of the model of parts or assemblies using a 3D printer and the manufacturing technology of the 3D additive layer without tools or planning the production process.

The prototype is the verification and adaptation phase of the product development project as it demonstrates and proves the project. We want to be able to touch and feel, test and demonstrate a product before it is actually mass-produced or made from an expensive material, and we want to make sure that our design adapts to our needs and applications.

We can build a part prototype or we can build the part ourselves by seeing and feeling it as the complete product. It may or may not work, or it may only work partially to test only parts of the project. The final version will likely appear correct and work correctly.

How does a traditional prototype differ from a rapid prototype? The traditional prototyping process involves simulating the manufacture of various materials, including clay, foam, wood, plastic, and metal. It may contain additional materials such as threads, tape, etc. We can make them by hand cutting, gluing, taping or using numerical control milling machines. Rapid prototyping manufacturing, on the other hand, includes the technology with which the 3D part from the CAD file (without paper drawings) on a computer and a 3D printer using materials such as resin, ceramics, nylon, stainless steel and more.

3D printing has become increasingly popular lately; as we can control the speed and accuracy of the parts it produces, creating very complex prototypes that we may not be able to process. The part made with a 3D printer can be almost identical to the appearance of the end product, giving a better idea of ​​"real business". In addition, there is much less waste material in 3D printing and it is generally a thankless task for a person who saves money for staff and personal purposes. Many designers may be working on the development of a single prototype, which makes it a challenge. Most 3D printing software, however, offers synchronization options so that everyone can be on the same page. For more information related to rapid prototyping can be viewed by visiting https://www.mold-making.com.

Once the prototyping phase is complete and we need fast mass production of the parts, the additive manufacturing process is likely to be less effective and slower (since each layer has to be made at the same time) than traditional part production methods like CNC machining with a CNC router. In addition, it is sometimes impossible to make a large part with the 3D printer, and it can be problematic to make the parts in sections and then glue them together.

However, it doesn't matter whether we use traditional or rapid prototyping manufacturing technology. A prototype serves as a tool for learning, experimenting, visualizing and improving designs and ideas. This tool is particularly useful in cases where the end product is very complex and may require various design changes, especially in areas such as medicine, automotive, bioengineering, aerospace, shipping, and more.