Rapid prototyping has been widely known as being able to fabricate 3D object with complex geometric shapes. Rapid prototyping can shorten the product development cycle and improve the design process by providing rapid and effective feedback to the designer, thus help a company keep ahead in a rapidly changing market. This paper presents software and hardware technologies of building LCD display based rapid prototyping system. Software design includes slicing algorithm, LCD photomask display process, user interface and motion control program. Hardware configuration of this architecture includes LCD photomask, optical system, z-axis elevator, resin supply system and PC based control system. After slicing process, the cross section contour of each layer is transferred to the LCD projector that is used for photomask. The optical system emits parallel light upwardly through the mask to expose and solidify the entire layer at once. After one layer is completed, the platform with the part rises and a new layer of photopolymer is applied to the bottom plate. After the sweep roller wipes the resin, the LCD photomask displays the cross sectional contour of the next layer. At this moment, the platform moves downwards to the correct height, and the next layer is cured subsequently. This process is done repeatedly until the whole part is finished. This LCD display based rapid prototyping system can operate smoothly and quietly.

A rapid prototyping machine system which combines three axes PC-based controller with thermal extrusion method is presented. The main features of this system are to build up a physical object model through the extrusion of thin thermal plastic material and building it up layer by layer. User can use this system to turn CAD model into physical object model. Hardware design includes three axes working table, a thermal extrusion head, and a PC-based control system. The rapid prototyping system software includes CAD-model slicing process and 2D-layer cross sectional fill generation algorithms. The process begins with the design of a conceptual geometric CAD model of an object. The cross sectional STL format data is interfaced to the rapid prototyping machine system. The system can be extended to use other plastic materials from the thermal extrusion head and build up the model layer by layer.

Telecontrol of a rapid prototyping machine via the Internet for the application of a telemanufacturing system is presented. The main features of this system are that users just need a general-purpose computer and a World Wide Web browser for commanding the rapid prototyping machine in a remote location through the Internet and Home Page. Hardware configuration of this architecture includes a thermal extrusion based layer-deposition rapid prototyping machine and several controllers, each of them is able to communicate with others via a computer network. Software design includes the user interface, model slicing process, model support generation, 2D-layer fill generation and machine codes translation. The system has extensive capabilities for teleoperation and other multimedia services. The system allows users to directly control the rapid prototyping machine via the Internet and access our Home Page through a friendly user interface. Also the remote user can receive real time images e.g. the completed rapid prototyping model parts captured by a CCD camera that is mounted on the rapid prototyping machine.