Composites by rapid prototyping technology

The use of rapid prototyping (RP) technology for rapid tooling and rapid manufacturing has given rise to the development of application-oriented composites. The present paper furnishes succinct notes of the composites formed using main rapid prototyping processes such as Selective Laser Sintering/Melting, Laser Engineered Net Shaping, Laminated Object Manufacturing, Stereolithography, Fused Deposition Modeling, Three Dimensional Printing and Ultrasonic Consolidation. The emphasis of the present work is on the methodology of composite formation and the reporting of various materials used. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.