Topic: Rapid Prototyping / Manufacturing: What is it, and what is it good for?

As little as 10 years ago, rapid prototyping / manufacturing equipment were expensive, low tolerance pieces of equipment. The parts made from these machines were not functional, and needed to be treated carefully.

Today, a fused-deposition-modeling (FDM) printer can be purchased at the local office supply store for not much more than a high quality printer.

Today, rapid prototyped / manufactured parts can be used for functional testing, as well as a means to make production components. Does this mean the end for conventional manufacturing processes?

In this presentation, the different rapid prototyping / manufacturing techniques will be discussed, as well as their strengths, weaknesses, and where, based on financial and functional considerations, they may be appropriate to be used and when they truly do not make sense.

Speaker: Richard Bergs - TMAC

Richard Bergs’ work is in new product development, using Innovation Engineering to generate new ideas for products and Technology Driven Market Intelligence to ensure there is a market. He also uses Technology Scouting to determine if components are available, and when possible, locates a vendor for the component. Richard designs prototypes using Lean Product Development principles, with an eye toward Design for Manufacturing and Assembly, and simulation to ensure the product will work as intended, as well as, actually building and testing the prototype.

Richard holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington, and a Master of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering from a joint program between the University of Texas at Arlington and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Richard has attended Innovation Engineering Black Belt training, which allows for customizing the innovation programs for TMAC customers. Richard is one of two master trainers for the MEP Technology Scouting and Technology Driven Market Intelligence, and has conducted multiple projects in addition to training courses.