Rapid prototyping is the automatic fabrication of physical objects directly from CAD data sources using solid freeform fabrication. According to Wikipedia, the first techniques for rapid prototyping became available in the late 1980s and were used to produce models and prototype parts. Rapid prototyping techniques put in and tie materials in layers to form objects.

Rapid prototyping takes virtual designs from computer aided design (CAD) or animation modeling software, transforms them into thin, virtual, horizontal cross-sections and then creates each cross-section in physical space, one after the next until the model is finished.

Technologies Available for Rapid Prototyping:

There are many contending technologies that are accessible in the market. As all are additive technologies, their main differences are found in the way layers are built to create parts. Some of the technologies available for Rapid Prototyping are:

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
Stereolithography (SLA)
Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM)
Electron Beam Melting (EBM)
3D Printing (3DP)