Progress Towards an International Standard for Data Transfer in Rapid

Published

August 1, 2001

Author(s)

Lalit Patil, D Dutta, Ram D. Sriram, Kevin W. Lyons, Amba D. Bhatt, Mike Pratt, M Allahabad

Abstract

This paper discusses the informational requirements of rapid prototyping and layered manufacturing (RPLM). The study is motivated by the recent decision to embark on the development of a new Application Protocol for the international standard ISO 10303, specifically to handle layered manufacturing information. The most common industrial use of RPLM today is for rapid prototyping, but a wider view of it as a flexible fabrication technology is taken here, to allow for future developments. Its use in building functional metallic parts under computer control has already been demonstrated, and commercial RPLM machines for building production parts are already being marketed. The paper includes a survey of current and proposed data formats for communication between the various stages of the RPLM process. In comparing them, particular attention is given to the issue of extensibility to meet future needs. In this last respect, special emphasis is given to materials-related and other non-geometric information needed for fabricating multi-material objects and objects with graded material properties.

Citation

Computer Aided Design Journal - European

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

data exchange, information technology, ISO 10303, layered manufacturing, rapid prototyping, solid freeform fabrication, STEP

Citation

Patil, L. , Dutta, D. , Sriram, R. , Lyons, K. , Bhatt, A. , Pratt, M. and Allahabad, M. (2001), Progress Towards an International Standard for Data Transfer in Rapid, Computer Aided Design Journal - European (Accessed October 2, 2025)