Web Exclusive Feature--The Basics of Rapid Prototyping
Rapid prototyping can take 3D CAD designs and transform them into a physical model, revolutionizing the way companies design and build products.
The pressures on companies to differentiate themselves in the market by designing and developing sure-fire products-and to do it faster, better and cheaper-has never been greater. The number of product variations continues to escalate, as does the complexity of the product. At the same time, products have a shorter shelf-life, giving companies less time to recapture their investment. The product development pressures fall squarely on the engineering community. The stress to get it right the first time, to compress the time from concept to market quickly and to take costs out of the process, have never been greater.
Recent figures show that a simple six-month extension in development time can cut into profits by an astounding 30%. Or increasing development costs by 50% can cut the bottom line by 5%. Neither option is a viable alternative in today's high-stakes market.