39-245
Carnegie Mellon University
Spring 2000
Matthew McGuire
Prototyping Process Potpourri
Description:
In this particular exercise the class began to explore the various processes used to make rapid prototype parts. As part of the exercise each student was require to make a presentation on one of the rapid prototyping processes. This process is also supplemented by each student being assigned a part to fabricate with the particular process. These parts formed an assembly which preformed an action when all of the parts interacted properly. The part pictured above is the part which I was assigned for the assembly. I will be creating the part using molding, but the initial form will be created using fuse deposition.
What I Learned:
At this point we have not completed the assignment yet, but I do have some initial observations. It seems evident that certain prototyping methods should be used in certain situations. Some are functional methods which yield parts that will be able to perform the job of the final part. While other methods are really only form methods, providing a sense of "What the part will look like". The particular methods in this exercise are both form and function methods. It was up to the group to recognize this and assign the proper process to the proper part.