Economic Efficiency of Using Rapid Prototyping Technology

Abstract

The present paper approaches the issue of using the new technology of Rapid Prototyping [1,2] in product engineering and tries to demonstrate its economic efficiency from the point of view of costs, in comparison with other technologies [. The comparison is made between Rapid Prototyping and plastic material injection. Rapid Prototyping is used for obtaining some prototypes but it also can be successfully used for individual or small series production. The background of the work briefly presented in this paper is related to some experimental research developed by the author regarding Rapid Prototyping Technologies for certain products which are belt pulleys. After the products have been physically created using Rapid Prototyping Technologies, the author was interested in quantifying its economic efficiency. The belt pulley the present paper refers to was obtained by using the Rapid Prototyping Technology FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling [).The working principle of this technology is briefly described later in this paper. As a novelty, the present paper is aiming at determining a criterion that allows a company to choose between the two technologies mentioned above.