5 Differences Between Rapid Prototyping and Rapid Manufacturing
T echnological advances have given rise to enhanced product development and manufacturing methods, offering significant benefits to designers and engineers. Two such processes are rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing, which are often confused due to their similarities. Both involve layer-by-layer construction of parts and prototypes, and they can use various technologies like SLA rapid prototyping. This blog aims to clarify the five essential differences between the two. Core distinctions Rapid prototyping focuses on quickly and cost-effectively creating concept models or prototypes using computer-aided design. This 3D design data can then be used to generate a prototype through various rapid manufacturing methods, such as 3D printing. It's important to note that rapid manufacturing and rapid prototyping are not mutually exclusive. Rapid manufacturing originated as a means to produce prototypes but has evolved to create end-use parts as well. Cost impli