New enabling technology for concurrent engineering: rapid prototyping and manufacturing (RPM)

This paper presents rapid prototyping, manufacturing (RPM) and rapid tooling technology, and how it is used as a new enabling technology for concurrent engineering. Several RPM processes are introduced, then the effect of the rapid prototyping technology to concurrent engineering is discussed. With the RP technology we can get the physical model of the new developed product much more quickly. By integrating the new technology with other enabling software and concurrent engineering philosophy, the product development cycle can be reduced dramatically. Some new technology problems for further research are proposed and the conclusion is given.