Rapid prototyping on a 3D printer
Rapid Prototyping is a 3D printing process, during which high-quality three-dimensional layouts are created to visualize designs and make it easier to see what works and not in specific designs. This is much faster and cheaper than before the technology became available. There are a number of 3D printer technologies available and each of them has its own characteristics.
Rapid prototyping
Layer-by-layer welding (FDM)
This technology involves the creation of 3D parts in layers, with each layer involves heating the consumable material, which is extruded through a nozzle with a hole of a certain diameter. Plastics are used for printing, but metal and even chocolate are possible. This method of prototyping is characterized by low speed, relatively low resolution, problems with fixing elements on the working surface. On the other hand, FDM is popular due to the low cost of filament, which is a significant advantage for FDM 3D printing. The most commonly used filament types are PLA (Polylactic acid), ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), and PETG (Polyethylene terephthalate) which each has their own advantages and disadvantages. There's a lot of other types of plastics used as well, like different types of flexibles, PEEK, Nylon and so on.
