Rapid Manufacturing (RM) is the ultimate goal of Rapid Prototyping (RP). Whereas RP produces a part of a surrogate material (for example, plastic or wax), which may subsequently be transformed into a metallic part by conventional investment casting, RM builds the part directly from the metal. There are currently several RM technologies that are commercially available. This paper will review the technologies and relate them to the potential of making precious metal parts.

Author: Dr. Joseph Tunick Strauss