Rapid Prototyping (RP) has revolutionized the landscape of how prototypes and products are made and small batch manufacturing carried out. This book gives a comprehensive coverage of RP and rapid tooling processes, data formats and applications. A CD-ROM, included in the book, presents RP and its principles in an interactive way to augment the learning experience.

Special features:

• Most comprehensive coverage of more than 30 RP Systems
• Understanding of RP through applications
• In-depth revelation of the basic principles behind major RP techniques
• Discussion of important issues such as STL file problems of RP parts
• Interactive CD-ROM to demonstrate the major RP techniques
• RP company background information and contact addresses

Contents:

• Rapid Prototyping Process Chain
• Liquid-Based Rapid Prototyping Systems
• Solid-Based Rapid Prototyping Systems
• Powder-Based Rapid Prototyping Systems
• Rapid Prototyping Data Formats
• Applications and Examples
• Evaluation and Benchmarking

"This book sits in a special place on my bookshelf. If you don't have it, get it. Thank you, Professors Chua, Leong and Lim, for producing such an outstanding book ..."

"Because of the diverse, yet concise coverage, the book is ideal for senior year undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as practitioners and researchers who wish to update themselves quickly on the exciting frontier of advanced manufacturing technology."

"To date, this is the only published text on RP that can be recommended to undergraduate students. Whenever I start my students off on a project that involves RP, and they say 'what is RP?', this is the book I give them to read. This book is an excellent introduction to RP."