RP's Frequently Asked Questions

• Additive technologies are complementary to subtractive ones.
  
  • How complex does a geometry have to be to require rapid prototyping?
    
  • Geometric complexity has implications.

2. What are the limitations?

• Accuracy
  
  • Stairstepping
    
  • Absolute accuracy / Precision

• Finishes
  
  • Secondary operations
    
  • Support structures must be removed

• Speed

• What’s all this going to cost?

• Materials
  
  • Plastics
    
  • Metals
    
  • Other Materials

• Service bureaus.

• Engineering
  
  • Concept Modeling
    
  • Functional Testing
    
  • Metal Tooling and Parts; Injection Molds

• Rapid Manufacturing

• Medicine and Dentistry

• Art, Architecture, Industrial Design

• Scientific Applications