Rapid Prototyping (RP) can be defined as a group of techniques used to rapidly produce a scale model of part or of the Assembly by three-dimensional computer-Aided Design (CAD) data. What is commonly believed that RP stereolithography technique first developed by 3D Systems in Valencia, CA, USA. The company was founded in 1986 and since then, a number of different RP techniques available.

Rapid Prototyping decreases development time by allowing corrections to a product that is made early in the process. In giving the engineering, manufacturing, marketing and purchasing products out early in the design process, mistakes can be corrected and changes can be made while they are still cheap.

Rapid Prototyping has also been mentioned as solid freeform manufacturing, automated manufacturing equipment, and layered manufacturing. RP obvious use as a vehicle for the display. In addition, RP models can be used for the test, for example, when an aerodynamic shape is placed in a wind tunnel. RP models can be used to create male models for tools, such as silicone rubber molds and investment patterns. In some cases, the RP may be the final, but typically the RP material is not strong or accurate enough. When the RP material is suitable, very complicated shapes (including parts nested within parts) may occur due to the nature of public relations.

There are a multitude of experimental methodologies RP, either in development or used by small groups of individuals. This section will focus on RP techniques that are currently available commercially, including stereolithography (SLA), selective laser sintering (SLS ®), Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM ™), Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Solid Ground Curing (SGC), and techniques of ink jet printing.
The first rapid prototyping techniques became available in late 1980 and used to produce models and prototype parts. Today, are used for a much wider range of applications and are even used to manufacture quality parts production in relatively small quantities. Some sculptors use the technology to produce complex shapes for art exhibitions. The use of additive fabrication technology to rapidly create virtual prototypes of designs is computer-aided design (CAD) or animation modeling software, transforms them into thin, virtual, horizontal cross sections and creates successive layers until that the model is complete. It is a WYSIWYG process where the virtual model and physical model are almost identical.

With the manufacture of additives, the machine reads data from a CAD drawing and lays down successive layers of liquid, powder or sheet material, and so builds the model in a series of cross sections. These layers, which correspond to the virtual section of the CAD model, are joined or fused automatically to create the final shape. The primary advantage to additive fabrication is its ability to create virtually any geometric shape or form.

The standard data interface between CAD software and machines is the STL file format. An STL file is approaching the form of a part or assembly using triangular facets. Smaller facets produce a higher quality surface.

The word "rapid" is relative: construction of a model with current methods can take several hours to several days depending on the method used and the size and complexity of the model. Additive systems for rapid prototyping can typically produce models in a few hours but can vary widely depending on the type of machine being used and the size and number of models that are produced simultaneously.

Some manufacturing techniques using solid freeform two materials during construction of the parties. The first material is the material part and the second is the support material (to support the salient features during construction). The support material is later removed by heat or dissolved in a solvent or water.

The manufacture of traditional injection molding may be less costly to manufacture polymer products in large quantities, but additive can be quicker and less expensive when producing relatively small quantities of the parties. 3D printers give designers and concept development teams the ability to produce parts and models of concept using a desktop size printer.A large number of competing technologies are available in the market. Like all additives are the technologies, their main differences are in the way layers are built to create the pieces. Some are melting or softening material to produce the layers (SLS, FDM), where other liquid thermoset materials which are cured with different technologies. In the case of lamination systems, thin layers are cut and joined.