Rapid prototyping work space optimization

Rapid prototyping (RP) is becoming more affordable and the preferred method because the technology is shifting from making only prototypes to being used as a process for simultaneously producing multiple parts. The part placement in the RP systems is a time consuming and tedious task for the operators. This paper discusses component development in RP and part placement of models in the rapid prototyping machine work space to optimize utilization of RP systems. The algorithm proposed fills the work space with parts by partitioning the work volume into layers, and then filling these layers one after another.