Can metal be fabricated by FDM?

Rapid prototype 3D printing is a helpful and advanced process in the fabrication of the design of a product. The process of prototyping consists of a number of bottlenecks in the way. Any of the bottlenecks that occur in the way of prototyping process can change the entire design. However, the rapid prototyping has enabled us in many of the engineering processes regarding the 3D printing.

What is rapid prototyping process?

 

The prototype refers to the physical design of a product that comes close to the final design with many steps. The prototype forms and comes to its form through the successive role of each step during the iterating process. Therefore, the rapid prototyping process is the quick cycle of iterating the final design of a product.

We use the word cycle to describe the idea of rapid prototyping. The reason behind it is that it is the combination of certain steps in the process. There is a cycle of repetition of these steps during the rapid prototyping. There are three stages in this process. These are prototype, review and refine and iterate.

The review stage of the prototyping is the successful step towards the completion of the process. While the refining and iteration process is the step to the appropriate and effective conclusion. The rapid prototyping process involves the certain techniques and processes on the way. These include the use of AutoCAD and other useful software and processes.

 

What is the difference between 3D printing and rapid prototyping?

 

The Rapid prototype 3D printing are techniques in the process of additive manufacturing. Many people thing that these two terms are same. Even many of the people do not know about difference between these two terms. However, this article will clear you the difference and confusion in these two terms.

3D printing is a process that uses a 3D model and converts it into the physical appearance. In this process, the important part is from the print head and printing technology. On the other hand, the rapid prototyping is the process of creating the physical object from the 3D model. This application of the rapid prototyping is faster than the normal designing process.

The process of prototyping uses the 3D printing in its stages and working. Thus, we can say that the rapid prototyping and 3D printing are the similar terms but they use in the different industries. However, you can see the marked difference between these two terms in following perspectives.

Cost

There is a much difference in the cost of 3D printing and rapid prototyping. This different arises due to the difference in the materials and equipment that we use in these techniques. These include the equipment, the labor, materials in the process and the costs of maintenance.

However, the rapid prototyping is costly than the 3D printing process. The cost of the rapid prototyping is almost double as compared to 3D printing. Moreover, there is also a marked difference in the maintenance cost of these two techniques. The maintenance cost of 3D printing is lower than that of rapid prototyping system.

Material choices

The Rapid prototype 3D printing process represents the vast range of the material choice in the process. However, the 3D printing does not provide the choice of materials like rapid prototyping. Although, there is much advancement in the process of 3D printing, but still there is not much variety of the materials.

Accuracy Level

When it comes to the level of accuracy, rapid prototyping is superior than 3D printing in this field. The rapid prototyping represents more advanced and accurate finishing of the products. Although, both of the techniques are similar in the creation of the physical models of the designs. But rapid prototyping provides the more accurate specific part features than 3D printing.

On the other hand, the 3D printers are of the small size. They are helpful in the fabrication of the small parts. While, the rapid prototyping system can create and fabricate the parts of the devices that are larger as compared to those generated by 3D printing.

Can metal be fabricated by FDM?

 

Rapid prototype 3D printing process utilizes a number of printing techniques in the way. One of the most important and significant printing techniques is fused deposition modeling (FDM). It represents the large and tremendous base of the 3D printers globally. This printing technique was the first one that came to light on the large scale.

A manufacturer takes into account the features and properties of the printing technique during the fabrication of a part. There are certain limitations and features of each technology and printing technique. The process of FDM has the capability to variate and change the parameters of different processes. The most significant is the temperature of the build platform and the nozzle.

 

Benefits of rapid prototyping

 

The process of rapid prototyping has many benefits that are of the great importance. The reason is that it is an advanced process than that of 3D printing. Some of the benefits of rapid prototyping are following:

Decrease time to market

Ideally, there should be a short time between the concept and deliverable product. The more the time is short, the more efficiency of the process is there. The process of rapid prototype 3D printing helps in the fast and accurate fabrication of the parts of the device. It takes the design of the components to convert it into the physical appearance.

Test and improve

The 3D printing process in the raping prototyping helps us in the process of better and effective manufacturing of the components. The prototype of a particular circuit can help us understand the information about the design of the product.

The testing process of the rapid prototyping includes the approval and disapproval of the design of the product. You can test and check the performance of the printing machines. Moreover, you can also ponder upon the quality and understanding of the manufacturing process in this step. This step also addresses the issues and problems related to the prototyping process.

Cost effective models

The fast and quick entry of the product in to the market helps us in the fabrication of the models with cost efficiency. In order to launch the product into the market with the efficient cost, we have to manufacture it in a large volume.

In the competitive market, we have to manufacture the product with the fast speed. Moreover, the rapid prototype 3D printing helps in the creating of a number of models at the same time. This provides the competitive edge in the market and quick decision making.

Improved Communication

The advancement and turnaround of the rapid prototyping helps in the fast and improved communication. It decreases and reduces the gaps in the communication during the process. This is possible if every engineer in the process has the understanding and knowledge of the technical steps of the process.

At each step, the process of the design formation becomes closer to the finishing stage. Therefore, the process of adjustment and tweaking becomes easier and understandable with the effective communication.