Abstract
The part quality and cost are greatly affected by process parameters during rapid prototyping (RP). This paper proposes a Virtual Rapid Prototyping System (VRPS) and describes its functions, characteristics and realization method. Moreover, aimed at the Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) technology, an Internet-based virtual rapid prototyping system named VRPS-I is implemented using Java and Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML). The system resembles the physical fabrication system of SLS. With the aid of this system, not only can the visual rapid prototyping process be dynamically previewed, but the forming process and some part-quality-related parameters can also be predicted and evaluated. Therefore, the reasonable rapid prototyping parameters can be predetermined according to the simulated results without any physical RP machine. Hence, it can help optimize the prototyping process, improve part quality, enhance fabrication efficiency, and lower the model making cost significantly.