Rapid Prototyping: Theory and Practice
Ali K. Kamrani and Emad Abouel NasrSpringerJanuary 2006ISBN 978-0-387-23290-4£84.50www.springer.com/uk/home?SGWID¼3-102-22-52495652-0
Keywords: Rapid prototypes, Assembly
Never, the saying goes, judge a book by its cover (or presumably, its title). In many ways this book bears out the old adage in that the title suggests something much more predictable and uniform than the reality inside. Although the title, Rapid Prototyping Theory and Practice suggests a dull trudge through SLS, SLA, FDM, LOM, etc. these technologies are barely mentioned and instead the book contains an eclectic collection of topics that are only loosely linked to the overall theme.
To be fair in the preface the authors say “the purpose of this edited book is to provide a comprehensive collection of the latest research and technical work in the area of rapid prototyping, rapid tooling and rapid manufacturing” this is a better summary of the broad range of topics assembled in this volume.
The book comprises of the following.
Chapter 1 covers material properties and is mostly text book material on the nature and testing of engineering materials that ends with a short section summarising the composition of plastic used in rapid prototyping systems.
Chapter 2 described the IGES data exchange format and presents an automatic feature recognition (AFR) method that works directly from this neutral representation. Although the AFR algorithm is straight forward, the tutorial introduction to IGES is potentially valuable to a wide range of researchers.
Chapter 3 gives an overview of the image data standard digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM). Designed to support medical imaging applications such CT scans. The authors are motivated by the belief that the DICOM data format has many potential applications beyond medicine. Some of these are briefly discussed, although strangely the representation of heterogeneous materials is not mentioned.
Chapter 4 reviews non-contact shape capture systems such as laser scanners. The chapter is notable because of it breadth. In addition to covering the obvious optical systems, the text links with the previous chapter by giving an over view of CT body scanning technologies (e.g. MRI and ultrasound).
Chapter 5 reviews contact-based systems as a natural progression from Chapter 4 and discusses coordinate measuring machines (CMM), their probes and functionality. The last section on Nano CMM is particularly interesting.
Chapter 6 presents a virtual assembly analysis system as an architecture that allows designers to do “what if” analysis on various designs options such as joining methods. It would be interesting to see these methods applied to disassembly for recycling or decommissioning.
The next three chapters focus on novel RP technologies.
Chapter 7 describes a subtractive rapid prototyping system that uses a CNC milling machine. The automation of the process planning and a flexible fixturing system allows components to be generated directly from 3D data. The authors make a compelling case for the approach.
Chapter 8, “Selective inhibition of sintering” is a new process that can make plastic parts. Working on a layer- by-layer approach, selective areas are wetted to prevent sintering when a blasted by an infrared heater.
Chapter 9, mega scale fabrication describes a layer manufacturing approach to large-scale fabrication process such as houses. Essentially the process lays down layers of concrete to form structures. However, the chapter would be of interest to anyone building a layered manufacturing system because of the low-level discussion of the functional of these systems.
The last three chapters focus on economic and business aspects of rapid prototyping.
Chapter 10, “Strategic justification of RP” describes the attributes and factors that should be considered when selecting a RP technology and proposes a model for evaluating these numbers.
Chapter 11, “Selection of rapid manufacturing technologies under epistemic uncertainty” and considers the difficulties of selection when the information is incomplete.
Lastly Chapter 12 considers an economic analysis of RP systems and presents an analytical model of the finance required to support a new installations.
In summary, the book comprises of 12 separately authored chapters each of which are interesting in their own right but overall the text has only a loose,linking theme. While this not really a reference book, it is a way of broadening ones knowledge and inspiring thought.
This book is broad rather than deep. Although it is hard to imagine a reader who would be interested in all the material it is also hard to conceive a reader who will not encounter new concepts and some stimulating ideas.
Jonathan CorneyScottish Manufacturing InstituteHeriot-Watt University
