We begin with our definition of a prototype and then discuss prototypes as design artifacts, introducing four dimensions for analyzing them. We then discuss the role of prototyping within the design process, in particular the concept of a design space, and how it is expanded and contracted by generating and selecting design ideas. The next three sections describe specific prototyping approaches...

1. Introduction Current rapid prototyping techniques are of limited use in the early phases of design. In order to establish a more dynamic and effective means, the concept of augmented prototyping recently gained interest [Stork et al., 2002][Verlinden et al., 2003]. The concept of Augmented Prototyping combines Rapid Prototyping techniques to obtain 3D physical objects (e.g. Stereo lithograph...

Rapid Prototyping (RP) presents the automatic production of physical parts using by additive manufacturing technology. The start techniques for Rapid Prototyping became available in the late 1980s and were used to produce models and prototype parts. Today they are used for a much wider range of applications and are even used to manufacture productionquality parts in relatively small numbers. Ra...