Coding system for rapid prototyping industry

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the classification and coding system developed for the rapid prototyping (RP) industry.Design/methodology/approach – The similarities among RP part geometries and processes are identified and related for the development of rapid prototyping coding system (RPCS).Findings – RPCS forms a base for developing “prototyping philosophy” to take advantage of parts similarities in determination of optimal build orientation and optimization of part building cost.Research limitations/implications – Most of the examples are limited to parts built by fused deposition modelling process. But, the concept is applicable to any existing RP process.Practical implications – RPCS implementation is suitable in industries where variety of RP parts are in use.Originality/value – This is the first attempt towards development of a formal coding system for the RP industry.