Agility through rapid prototyping technology in a manufacturing environment using a 3D printer
Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management
ISSN: 1741-038X
Article publication date: 4 September 2009
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the adoption of rapid prototyping (RP) technology using three dimensional (3D) printer for infusing agility in traditional manufacturing environment.
Design/methodology/approach
The computer aided design (CAD) model of a knob of an electronics switch is developed using Pro/E software. Keeping this model as a reference, CAD models of new six knobs are developed. A 3D printer is used to build the prototypes of five of those CAD models. The receptivity of the practitioners over adopting CAD models and 3D printer for achieving agility is investigated.
Findings
The sensitisation of the industry captains and employees of traditional manufacturing sector is the imperative for exploiting the power of 3D printer and achieving mass customisation.
Originality/value
The paper reports an original research in which the practicality of using 3D printer is investigated with the objective of enabling the traditional manufacturing companies to imbibe agile characteristics.
Keywords
Citation
Vinodh, S., Sundararaj, G., Devadasan, S.R., Kuttalingam, D. and Rajanayagam, D. (2009), "Agility through rapid prototyping technology in a manufacturing environment using a 3D printer", Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, Vol. 20 No. 7, pp. 1023-1041. https://doi.org/10.1108/17410380910984267
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2009, Emerald Group Publishing Limited