a summary of Future of RP Comments

From: Elaine Hunt (ehunt@ces.clemson.edu)
Date: Tue Dec 15 1998 - 15:36:41 EET


>>>The customer will be more involved in the design and will design it as
they want it. Then a true flexible manufacturing systems where the product
geometry can be randomly changed without affecting efficiency will be used
to manufacture real parts in a wide range of materials - plastics,
ceramics, metals creating custom products cheaper with shorter lead times.
>>>>>>>>>>

Given this interesting picture now how do you change manufacturing,
engineering, and revolutionize the educational process to get to this point
in time? The number of years it would take to produce the necessary broad
changes will see most of us growing daisies.

10 years = 3700 systems sold = 5500 companies using RP&M
20 years =19000 systems sold= 25000 companies using RP&M
30 years = ????? ?????

How many of us have gotten our children or grandchildren interested in
using RP? Have we given them a tour, a trinket, or picture ( a one of a
kind object we designed just for them) How many future engineers have we
given the chance to use RP&M (stretch their imagination)? It looks like
they will be the ones enjoying the fruits of our present labor since we
will not change the present system.

Elaine

*******************************************************************
Opinions, suggestions, and other controversial matter VOID where prohibited.
******************************************************************
Elaine T. Hunt, Director
Clemson University Laboratory to Advance Industrial Prototyping
206 Fluor Daniel Bldg. Clemson, SC 29643-0925
864-656-0321 (voice) 864-656-4435 (fax)
elaine.hunt@ces.clemson.edu
http://chip.eng.clemson.edu/rp/persall/elaine.html

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