Visualisation of rapid prototyping

Discusses a virtual prototyping (VP) system developed for simulation of rapid prototyping processes. It enables a designer to visualise and optimise an RP process with a set of process parameters. The visualisation of a virtually simulated part prior to physical fabrication helps reduce unwanted prototyping iterations. The implementation techniques involved in the development of the VP system and the considerations in selecting virtual reality interfaces are described. The visualisation capability of the system is demonstrated by comparing virtual parts with the corresponding physical prototypes.