Introduction to

Rapid Prototyping
What is Prototyping?
 Prototype is the first or original example of
something that has been developed; it is a model or
preliminary version.
 Need for a prototype: It is a tool for a designer to
validate his design before starting the actual
production of the component.
 Methods of making prototypes:
 Manual prototyping (Traditional practice)

 Machining/CNC method (Recent practice)

 Issues: Time consuming and costly

2
Types of Prototypes
1. Implementation of the prototype: from the
entire product (or system) itself to its sub-
assemblies and components
2. Form of the prototype: from a virtual
prototype to a physical prototype
3. Degree of the approximation of the
prototype: from a very rough representation
to an exact replication of the product

3
Role of Prototypes in Product
Development

1. Experimentation and Learning

2. Testing and Proofing
3. Communication and Interaction
4. Synthesis and Integration
5. Scheduling and Markers

4
Historical Developments of RP
 It is closely tied with the development of
applications of Computers in the
Industry
 Computer Aided Design (CAD)
 Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM)
 Computer Numerical Control (CNC)
 CAD is essential for RP, Advancements in
manufacturing systems and materials
5
Development of RP Related
Technologies
Year Technology
1770 Mechanization
1946 First Computer
1952 First Numerical Control (NC) Machine Tool
1960 First commercial Laser
1961 First commercial Robot
1963 First Computer-Aided Design (CAD) System
1988 First commercial Rapid Prototyping System
6
 Three Phases of Developments
Geometric Modeling Prototyping
First Phase: 2D Wireframe First Phase: Manual Prototyping
• Started in mid-1960s • Traditional practice for many
• Few straight lines display may be: centuries
• Circuit path on a PCB • Prototyping as a skilled crafts is:
• Plan view of a mechanical • Traditional and manual
component • based on material of prototype
• Natural drafting technique • Natural prototyping technique

Second Phase: 3D Surface Modeling Second Phase:Soft/Virtual Prototyping

• Mid-1970s • Mid-1970s
• Increasing complexity • Increasing complexity
• Representing more information about • Virtual prototype can be stressed,
precise shape, size and surface simulated, and tested, with exact
contour of parts mechanical and other properties
Third Phase: Solid Modeling Third Phase: Rapid Prototyping
• Early1980s • Mid1980s
• Edges, surfaces and holes are knitted • Benefit of a hard prototype made in a
together to form a cohesive whole very short time (relies on CAD modeling)
• Computer can determine the inside of • Hard prototype can also be used for
an object from the outside limited testing 7

• No longer ambiguous but exact • It can also assist in the manufacturing

Current Challenges facing the
Industries

 Quality

 Productivity

 Reduced costs
 Customer satisfaction

 Time-to-market (Responsiveness in
bringing new products to the market
places)
8
Time Compression Engineering/
Concurrent Engineering in Product
Development

9
Project Time & Product Complexity
in 40 Years

10
Classification of Manufacturing
Processes

11
3D Printing & Additive Manufacturing

12
AM Vs. 3D Printing

13
Success of AM is 3D Content

14
Ease of Use

15
Drivers of AM

 Organically Designed Geometries

 Personalization/Customization
 Small Batch/Limited Quantities
 High Value/High Complexity Products
 Design/Weight/Strength Optimization

16
Historical Perspective & Recent
Advances of AM
AM is about 25 years old.
AM is now an industry of 3 Billion $.
In India, AM began in early 90’s.
There has been a great transition in terms of its access to
people/industry. [3doodler]
Presently market is highly competitive. [3Dprinters]
New IPs are being added and old IPs are expiring.
AM is expending rapidly in terms of technologies, application areas
and materials.
Many industries have accepted AM as an integral parts of their
processes.
17
Steps in AM

Source: Ian Gibson, 2010

18
Results of the Integration of
AM Technologies

19
Need for Time Compression in
Product development
 Global Competition
 Customer-driven product
Customization
 Accelerated Product
Obsolescence
 Continued Demands for Cost
Savings

Development of New Technologies 20

“Beyond” CAD/CAM/CAE

CAD/CAM/CAE

Rapid Prototyping/Tooling/Manufacturing

Re-Engineering
21
Rapid Prototyping (RP)
 Rapid Prototyping takes information from a
three-dimensional (3D) Computer-aided
design (CAD) database and produces a
solid model (prototype) of the design
 One can turn a design concept into a solid
prototype and test it for form, fit, and
function at a fraction of the cost and time of
traditional prototyping methods

22
  What is Rapid Prototyping????
“A technology that produces models and prototype
parts from 3D computer-aided design (CAD) model
data, CT and MRI scan data, and model data created
from 3D object digitizing systems”.
- Terry Wohlers
“Direct fabrication of parts, components, or models
from 3D CAD drawings WITHOUT part-specific tooling
or human intervention”.
- Joe Beaman
Additive Manufacturing (AM) is new process of
joining materials to make objects from 3D model data,
usually layer upon layer, as opposed to subtractive
manufacturing methodologies. 23

- ASTM International F42 Committee

Benefits of Rapid Prototyping
 Reduced lead times to produce prototyped
components
 Improved ability to visualize the part geometry
due to its physical existence
 Earlier detection and reduction of design errors
 Increased capability to compute mass
properties of components and assemblies
 Eliminates waste and costly late changes

24
Design change costs during
Product Development

25
Traditional Vs. Rapid Prototyping

 Traditional prototyping is machining, It

requires significant lead times from several
days to many weeks, depending on the
complexity of the part and availability of
materials, equipment, and labor
 Rapid Prototyping, It produces plastic parts
directly from design data created in any CAD
system

26
Rapid Prototyping, Tooling and
Manufacturing (RPTM)
 In addition to making prototypes, RP techniques are
now being used to produce tooling known as Rapid
Tooling (RT). It helps to eliminate the costly and time
consuming practice of machining metal tools and dies
 The automated production of final products directly
from CAD files is known as Rapid Manufacturing
(RM). At present, only a few companies are capable of
producing salable products, but the number will
increase as technologies, processes, and material
properties continue to improve. RM may never
eliminates high-speed, high-volume manufacturing
processes, in which large production runs are more
economical, but it can make the development process
27
more efficient.
AM Wheel

28
Other Names for Rapid Prototyping
 By speed, ease of use and desktop nature
 Desktop Manufacturing
 Direct CAD Manufacturing
 Instant Manufacturing
 By the characteristic of layer nature
 Layered Manufacturing
 Material Deposition Manufacturing
 Material Addition Manufacturing
 By the terms solid, freeform and fabrication
 Solid Freeform Fabrication
 Solid Freeform Manufacturing
 Automated Manufacturing
29
Fabrication Processes

30
Basic Principle of AM

1 CAD Model

2 Sliced Model

3 Layered Manufacturing
31
AM Process Chain

32
Basic Process of AM
1. Create a CAD Model of the design
2. Convert the CAD model to
stereolithography (STL) file format
3. Slice the STL file into two-dimensional (2D)
cross-sectional layers
4. Grow the prototype
5. Clean and finish the model

33
Step 1: Creating CAD Model
 The first step in AM is the creation of a CAD solid
model
 AM requires that we make a fully closed, water-tight
model such that even if we were to pour water into
the volume of the model, it would not leak
 Solid models can be created using a CAD software
package such as AutoCAD, Pro/ENGINEER, Solid
Works, I-DEAS, CATIA, UNIGRAPHICS, etc.

34
Step 2: Conversion of CAD
Model into STL
 Since various CAD software packages use different
algorithms to represent solid objects, STL file format
has been selected as the de facto standard in the AM
industry
 The STL file represents a 3D surface of an assembly
as planar triangles
 The file contains the coordinates of the vertices and
the direction of the outward normal of each triangle
 The STL file format is the best file format to represent
all surfaces, in preparation for the slicing algorithm

35
Step 3: Slicing the STL file
 Slicing the STL file using a proprietary software
program, provided by the manufacturer of the AM
machine in which the model is to be produced
 The software imports the STL file and lets the user
orient the part and adjust the size and slice thickness
(0.01 to 0.7mm) of the model
 The software also generate support structure, these
are necessary for creating features such as
overhangs, internal cavities and thin-walled sections
 It also provides information about how much time and
material will be required to make the prototype

36
Step 4: Growing the prototype
 It involves the actual making of the prototype
 Once the STL file is processed and saved, it is
sent to the AM machine
 At this time, the AM machine acts as a printer
 Building the prototype one layer at a time
 Most of the modern AM machines can operate
unattended once the initial setup is completed

37
Step 5: Postprocessing
 The final step is removing the part from the
machine and cleaning it before use
 It also involves post curing of photosensitive
materials, sintering powder materials, and
removing the support materials
 Some prototypes are also subjected to surface
treatment, such as sanding, scaling or painting
to improve their appearance and durability

38
 Basic Process of AM
CAD-Model Triangulation Supports Slicing

– 3D CAD-data – Conversion into – Generation of – Slicing of part’s

»STL-data« support data geometry and
– Representation of – Will be built up support data
surfaces by small together with into layers
triangles part

39
 Basic Process of AM
Process set-up Production Cleaning Post curing

– Data transfer to – Layer-by-layer – Taking out of part – Final curing

machine exposure of – Cleaning under UV-light
– Setting-up of job geometry – Removal of (if required)
– Start of building supports
process – Surface finish
(if required)
40
AM Process Chain

41
AM Installations Worldwide

42
Installations by regions and
countries

43
AM Systems Cumulative Sales (1988-2012)

44
Growth of AM Technologies

45
Growth of Metal AM Systems

46
Growth of Personal Printers

47
How Companies are using AM
Technologies?

48
Applications of AM

49
AM Growth Prediction

50
Gartner Curve/Hype Cycle for
Emerging Technologies, 2013

51
3rd Industrial Revolution: The
digitisation of manufacturing
will transform the way goods
are made—and change the
politics of jobs too

Source: The Economist, April 2012

52
53
AM News

54
AM News

55
Global Perspective of AM

56
57
 Global Perspective of AM

58
Source: http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/9/4315720/white-house-looks-to-3d-printing-with-200-million-plan-for-military
 Global Perspective of AM

Source:
http://www.3ders.org/articles/20130426-chinese-government-announces-funding-3d-printing-research.htm 59
Global Perspective of AM

60
AM is Future Technology

61
CNC Vs. AM
 Material
(plastic/wax/paper/cermics/composites/metals)
(MDF/machineable form/wax/polymers/metals/alloys)
 Speed
 Complexity
 Accuracy
 Geometry
 Programming
62
Generic Integration of a AM
Machine

63
Classification of AM Systems
 AM systems can be classified in a variety of
ways depending on baseline technology,
like lasers, printer technology, extrusion
technology, etc. [Burns (1993), Kruth et al.
(1998)].
 Classification based on the initial form of the
material [Chua CK et al., (1998)]
1. Liquid-based
2. Solid-based
3. Powder-based 64
Liquid-based AM Systems
 Liquid-based AM systems begins with the build
material in the liquid state
 The liquid is converted into a solid state
through a curing process

65
 Liquid-based AM Systems
AM System Method
1. 3D systems’ Stereolithography Apparatus (SLA)1. Single Laser beam:
2. Object Geometries Ltd.’s Polyjet (1),(3),(5),(6),(9),(14) & (15)
3. D-MEC’s Solid Creation Systems (SCS) 2. UV Lamp: (2)
4. EnvisionTec’s Perfactory 3. UV masked lamp: (13)
5. Autostrade’s E-Darts 4. Digital light processing: (4)
6. CMET’s Solid Object Ultraviolet-laser printer 5. Digital mirror devices: (11)
7. EnvisionTec’s Bioplotter 6. Two laser beams: (12)
8. Rapid Freeze Prototyping 7. Extrusion in liquid: (7)
9. Microfabrication 8. Freezing of water: (8)
10. Microfabrica’s EFAB Technology 9.Electro deposition: (10)
11. D-MEC’s ACCULAS
12. Two Laser Beams
13. Cubital’s Solid Ground Curing (SGC)
14. Teijin Seiki’s Soliform system 66

15. Meiko’s rapid prototyping system for Jewelry industry

Solid-based AM Systems
 Solid-based systems begin with the build material in
the solid state
 The solid form may include the material in the form of
a wire, a roll, laminates, or pallets

67
 Solid-based AM Systems
AM System Method
1. Stratasys’ Fused Deposition Modelling 1. Melting and Solidification /
(FDM) Fusing method:
2. Solidscape’s Benchtop System (1),(2),(4),(7) & (9)
3. Cubic Technologies’ Laminate Object 2. Cutting and Gluing/ Joining
Manufacturing (LOM)
4. 3D Systems’ Multi-Jet Modeling (MJM) method: (3),(5),(6) & (8)
5. Solidimension’s Plastic Sheet
Lamination (PSL)
6. Kira’s Paper Lamination Tech. (PLT)
7. CAM-LEM’s CL 100
8. Ennex Corporation’s Offset Fabbers
9. Shaped Deposition Manufacturing
Process
68
Powder-based AM Systems
 While powder is considered solid, a special category of
powder-based system has been intentionally created
outside the solid-based systems to represent powder in
granular form

69
 Powder-based AM Systems
AM System Method
1. 3D systems’ Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 1. Joining/Binding method:
2. Z Corporation’s Three-Dimensional Printing (3DP) Laser (or) Binder/Glue
3. EOS’s EOSINT Systems
4. Optomec’s Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS)
5. Arcam’s Electron Beam Melting (EBM)
6. Concept Laser GmbH’s LaserCUSING
7. MCP-HEK Tooling GmbH’s Realizer II (SLM)
8. Phenix Systems’s PM Series (LS)
9. Sintermask Technologies AB’s Selective Mask Sintering (SMS)
10. 3D-Micromac AG’s Microsintering
11. Therics Inc.’s Theriform Technology
12. The Ex One Company’s ProMetal
13. Voxeljet Technology GmbH’S VX System
14. Soligen’s Direct Shell Production Casting (DSPC)
15. Fraunhofer’s Multiphase Jet Solidification (MJS) 70

16. Aeromet Corporation’s Laserform Technology

Classification of AM Systems
[Pham DT et al.,(2010)]

71
New AM Classification Schemes
[Gibson I, Stucker BE et al.,(2010)]

 Point-wise/Line/Layer/Volume Processing
 Machine Architecture & Material
Transformation Physics
1. Photo-polymerization Processes
 Stereolithography (SLA)
 Microstereolithography
 Mask Projection SLA
 Envision TEC
2. Powder Bed Fusion Processes
 Selective Laser Sintering(SLS)
 EOSint Laser Sintering
 Selective Laser Melting (SLM)
 Electron Beam Melting (EBM) 72
New AM Classification Schemes
[Gibson I, Stucker BE et al.,(2010)]
3. Extrusion-Based Processes
 Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM)
 Envisiontec Bio-plotters
 Shape Deposition Manufacturing (SDM)
 Ballistic Particle Manufacturing (BPM)
4. Printing Technology
 Object Polyjet
 Three-Dimensional Printing (3DP)
 Droplet Formation Technologies
5. Sheet Lamination Processes
 Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM)
 Ultrasonic Consolidation (UC)
73
New AM Classification Schemes
[Gibson I, Stucker BE et al.,(2010)]
6. Beam Deposition Processes
 Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS)
 Direct Metal Deposition (DMD)
 3D Laser Cladding
7. Direct Write Technologies
 Ink-based
 Laser Transfer
 Thermal Spray
 Beam Deposition (Chemical vapour deposition)
 Liquid-phase Direct Deposition (Electrochemical)
 Beam Tracing Approaches (Electron beam/Focused
Ion beam/Laser beam )

74
AM Classification
[ASTM F42 International Committee
(2012)]
1. Vat Photopolymerization (Materials: Photopolymers)
(Applications: Prototypes)
 3D System’s Stereolithography , Micro-SLA, EnvisionTEC and MicroTEC
GmbH’s DLP/LED Technology
2. Material Jetting (Materials: Polymers, Waxes) (Applications:
Prototypes, Casting Patterns)
 Objet’s PolyJet , 3D Systems’ ProJet , Solidscape’s ThermoJet
Technology
3. Binder Jetting (Materials: Polymers, Metals, Sand)
(Applications: Prototypes, Moulds, Direct Parts)
 Z Corp.’s/3D Systems 3DP, ExOne, VoxelJet Technology
4. Material Extrusion (Materials: Polymers) (Applications:
Prototypes)
 Stratasys’s FDM, RepRap Project, MakerBot,, Contour Crafting
Technology, 3D System’s Bites from Bytes, EnvisionTEC’s 3D Bio- 75

plotting
AM Classification
[ASTM F42 International Committee
(2012)]
5. Powder Bed Fusion (Materials: Polymers & Metals)
(Applications: Prototypes, Direct Parts)
 3D System’s Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), EOS GmbH’s Direct
Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), Arcam’s Electron Beam Melting (EBM),
Concept Laser GmbH’s LaserCUSING
6. Directed Energy Deposition (Materials: Metals)
(Applications: Repair, Direct Parts)
 Optomac’s Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS), POM’s Direct
Metal Deposition (DMD), Accufusion’s Laser Consolidation,
Honeywell’s Ion Fusion, Sciaky, Inc.’s Direct Manufacturing
Technology
7. Sheet Lamination (Materials: Paper & Metals)
(Applications: Prototypes, Direct Parts)
 Helisys’s Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM), Kira’s Paper
Lamination Technology (PLT), Mcor’s Lamination Technology, 76

Farisonic’s Ultrasonic Consolidation

AM Classification
[ASTM F42 Committee (2012)]
Category AM process
Material Extrusion AM process in which material is selectively
dispensed through a nozzle or orifice
Material Jetting AM process in which droplets of build material are
selectively deposited
Binder Jetting AM process in which a liquid bonding agent is
selectively deposited to join powder materials
Sheet Lamination AM process in which sheets of material are bonded
to form an object
Vat Photopolymerization AM process in which liquid photopolymer in a vat is
selectively cured by light-activated Polymerization
Powder Bed Fusion AM process in which thermal energy selectively
fuses regions of a powder bed
Directed Energy AM process in which focused thermal energy is used
Deposition to fuse materials by melting as the material is being
77
deposited
Variations from one AM Machine
to Another
 Photopolymer-based Systems
 Powder-based Systems
 Molten Material Systems
 Solid Sheets
 Metal Systems
 Use of Substrates
 Energy Density
 Weight
 Accuracy
 Speed
 Material Handling Issues
 Maintenance of Equipment 78
Design for AM
 Part Orientation
 Removal of Supports
 Hollowing Out Parts
 Inclusion of Undercuts and other
Manufacturing Constraining Features
 Interlocking Features

 Reduction of part count in an assembly

79
 Identification Marking/Numbers
Application Areas That Don’t Involve
Conventional CAD Modelling

 Medical Modelling
 Reverse Engineering Data
 Architectural Modelling

80
Future of AM: Rapid Prototyping
into Direct Digital Manufacturing
 Design for Particular Function/Application
 Customization of a Product

Source: Phonak
 Speed, Quality, Accuracy and Material properties
 Home Fabrication Devices
 http://www.the3doodler.com/ 81
Future of RP: Rapid Prototyping
into Direct Digital Manufacturing
 Processing using Thicker layers
 Processing of region rather than layers
 Intelligent & Complex software
 Part information in hierarchical/volumetrically
 Hybrid (Additive, Subtractive and robotic handling)
 Dedicated systems for Dental, Hearing aids

www.figureprints.com

82
AM Materials

 Plastics/Polymers
 Thermo plastics
(ABS/PC/PLA/ULTEM/PA/Polystyrene/
Polypropylene8383/Glass-,Carbon-,
Aluminum filled PA/DuraForm Flex)
 Thermo set plastics (Acrylic/Acrylate/Epoxy
based photopolymers)

83
AM Materials Cont.,

 Metals
 Tool steels
 Stainless steels
 Titanium
 Titanium alloys
 Aluminum alloys
 Nickel-based alloys
 Cobalt-chromium alloys
 Copper-based alloys
 Gold
 Silver
84
AM Materials Cont.,
 Composites and Hybrid Materials
 Base material (PA/Nylon), Fill material
(Glass/Aluminum/Carbon fibers)
 Plaster based composites
 Copper and Aluminum
 Nitinol fibers and Aluminum
 Materials for metal Casting
 Investment casting (wax based)
 Sand casting (sand based)
 Ceramics and other Materials
 Ceramics blends, Glass, Alumina 85

 Paper, PEEK, PEKK

AM Processes Vs. Materials

86
 Applications of AM
 Prototyping  Direct Part Production
 Visual Aids & Presentation Models  Aerospace
 Fit, Function, and Assembly  Automotive & Motorsports
Models  Medical
 Tooling  Avatars & Figurines
 Metal Casting  Furniture, Home, and Office
 Architectural Accessories
 Medical  Applications in Music
 Anatomical & Surgical Models
 Customer-created Products
 Custom Prosthetic Design
 Art & Jewelry
 Virtual Surgical Planning &
 Gifts, Trophies & Memorials
 Marketing & Advertising
Personalized Surgical Instruments
 Custom fabricated Implants
 Museum Displays
 Fashion & High-performance
 Dental
Products
Prototyping Applications: Visual
Aids & Presentation Models

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac3NEOf_w_8
Prototyping Applications : Fit,
Function, and Assembly
Tooling Applications
Tooling Applications
Metal Casting Applications
Metal Casting Applications
Architectural Applications
Architectural Applications
Medical Applications: Anatomical
and Surgical Models
Medical Applications: Custom
Prosthetic Design
Medical Applications: Virtual Surgical
Planning & Personalized Surgical
Instruments
Medical Applications: Custom
Fabricated Implants
Medical Applications
Medical Applications
Medical Applications
Medical Applications
Medical Applications
Medical Applications
Medical Applications
Medical Applications
Dental Applications
Dental Applications
Direct Part Production
Applications : Aerospace
Direct Part Production
Applications : Aerospace
Direct Part Production
Applications : Aerospace

Thin walled turbine combustion chamber, produced on

EOSINT M 270, material EOS Nickel Alloy IN 718
Direct Part Production
Applications : Aerospace
Direct Part Production
Applications : Aerospace
Direct Part Production
Applications : Aerospace
Direct Part Production
Applications : Aerospace
Direct Part Production
Applications : Aerospace
Direct Part Production Applications:
Automotive & Motorsports
Direct Part Production Applications:
Automotive & Motorsports
Direct Part Production Applications:
Automotive & Motorsports
Direct Part Production
Applications: Medical

Emma.mov

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SWw_qM6_8I
Direct Part Production
Applications: Avatars & Figurines
Direct Part Production
Applications: Avatars & Figurines
Direct Part Production
Applications: Avatars & Figurines
Direct Part Production Applications:
Furniture,Home & Office Accessories
Direct Part Production Applications:
Furniture,Home & Office Accessories
Direct Part Production Applications:
Music Applications

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf5LfmP2tzY
Direct Part Production Applications:
Consumer-created Products
Direct Part Production Applications:
Consumer-created Products
Direct Part Production Applications:
Art & Jewelry
Direct Part Production Applications:
Gifts, Trophies & Memorials
Direct Part Production Applications:
Museum Displays
Direct Part Production Applications:
Fashion & High-performance Products
Direct Part Production Applications:
Fashion & High-performance Products
Direct Part Production Applications:
Fashion & High-performance Products
Direct Part Production Applications:
Fashion & High-performance Products
Direct Part Production Applications:
Fashion & High-performance Products
AM in Education
Other Applications of AM
 3D Printed Gun (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7ZYKMBDm4M)
 3D Printed House (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SObzNdyRTBs)
 3D Printed Car (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vI12MqoYQto)
 3D Bio-printing (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTwv9jMMcOY)
 3D Printed Organs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nue1J8Hkn2E)

 Food Printing (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WWHpWgaq7I)

Future of AM
 Revolutionary Technology Developments
 Expanded Materials Pallettes
 Large Platforms & Higher Throughput
 More Options for Tooling
 Key Patents Expiration
 Open Source Platform Options
 More Aerospace Applications
 Further FDA Approval For Implants
 Low Cost Alternatives From Asia
Research Directions in AM
 New product development (faster, cheaper, better, smarter)
 Touch & Feel to Functional Testing
 Enabler of Innovation
 Bio- applications (Medical, Dental, Pharmaceutical, Biological etc.)
 Newer materials development and characterization
 Rapid Tooling & Rapid manufacturing
 Geometric Modeling, data exchange and software issues
 Process improvements (cost, accuracy, finish, size, strength etc.)
 Development of newer processes, equipment and controls
 Development of newer applications (aerospace, electronics etc.)
 Process modeling and simulation issues
 Scaling issues (micro- and nano- )