Re: [rp-ml] International Terminology Standards

I think this subject is getting its course by itself. Whether it?s
good or bad. Hello to all,

I think most manufacturing and design related literature refer to
these processes as ?Rapid Prototyping?. Also in academia the term
Rapid Prototyping is used to name the chapter where additive
technologies are taught. It?ll be strange that new literature will
refer to the same processes with a different term.
I personally prefer the term ?Rapid Manufacturing?, because it reveals
its real intention, but when you try to explain it to others Rapid
Manufacturing doesn?t really describe the technologies: they?re not
?Rapid? and not all of them have proven apt for end-use manufacture.
However when you make the shift to ?3DPrinting? when explaining them,
you get almost immediately understood.
Thus we`ve got:
Rapid prototyping = Academically understood
Rapid Manufacturing =Adopted by industry
3D printing = Clarifying for Non experts-new comers

It will depend on the final scope of the ASTM definition, but I like
and would use any of those. Although other names such as ?layered
deposition?. etc. are more exact they´re restrictive.

Regards

Javier

Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña
Barcelona España

>
> Hello to everyone and best wishes for 2009!
>
>
>
> I belong to AIMME, a RTD Institute situated in Valencia, Spain.
> Our Product Engineering department has a long tradition of
> activities with additive technologies (SLA, FDM, DLP, Laser Cusing
> and, promptly we will incorporate EBM). Inspired by this subject, we
> had a debate on which is the most adequate term.
>
>
>
> Based on experience we have had with our customers and partners on
> basis of which we think that the most appropriate term would be
> DIRECT ADDITIVE FABRICATION.
>
>
>
> Why is so?
>
>
>
> DIRECT: the part is fabricated directly from the electronic file,
> without steps such as mould making, CNC programming or similar.
>
> ADDITIVE: We may say that there are three types of manufacturing
> processes: subtractive processes, which includes milling, drilling,
> grinding, etc; forming processes, such as stamping, deep drawing,
> bending, etc and additive processes where we can include additive
> fabrication.
>
>
>
> We think that '3D Printing' may cause some misinterpretation.
> First of all, if we can say that the concept of FDM is a kind of
> printing, for SLM or EBM, we couldn't completely agree. On the other
> hand, people not familiarized with additive technologies can take it
> as something not so serious. We have already had bad experience with
> this term as well as with 'Rapid Prototyping'. Our possible clients
> sometimes underestimate the properties of parts obtained by additive
> technologies, believing that they can only serve as prototypes. For
> example, metallic parts done by laser of EBM are completely
> functional and ready-to-use with full mechanical properties. Yet,
> although the most 'picturesque' term that anyone could understand,
> most of the people cannot imagine that something 'printed' can
> withstand serious functional loads in-use.
>
>
>
> Additionaly, we believe that the term 'LAYER' is a bit
> restrictive. We agree that the most of actual technologies are
> layer-by-layer processes. Yet, in the imminent future there may be
> serious attempts to change this concept in order to increase
> productivity or machine performance. That is why it is not a good
> idea to limit ourselves to the layer concept. Also, the term 'RAPID'
> is a bit tricky and, in our opinion, a question for a much wider
> debate.
>
>
>
> Warm greetings from AIMME Product Engineering Dept!
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Vojislav Petrovic
> Unidad de Ingeniería de Producto
> AIMME-INSTITUTO TECNOLÓGICO METALMECÁNICO
> Parque Tecnológico, Avda. Leonardo Da Vinci, 38
> 46980 - PATERNA - VALENCIA - SPAIN
> Tel. +34 96 131 85 59 - Fax +34 96 136 61 45
> www.aimme.es - vpetrovic@aimme.es
>
>
>
>
>
>
> De: owner-rp-ml@rapid.lpt.fi [mailto:owner-rp-ml@rapid.lpt.fi] En
> nombre de Terry Wohlers
> Enviado el: lunes, 12 de enero de 2009 0:57
> Para: RP-ML
> Asunto: *SPAM*: 09.8/4.0 - Fw: [rp-ml] International Terminology Standards
>
>
>
> In keeping with the rules of the rp-ml, I am reporting the results
> of the input on terminology. Twenty-five individuals provided their
> thoughts, either by sending them to this list or to me privately. I
> asked for clarification on a few of them. The 25 responses represent
> nine countries around the world. Sixteen are from North America, six
> from Europe, and one each from the Middle East and Asia. The
> following 13 unique terms were offered. The number at the left
> represents the frequency of each term.
>
>
>
> 10 - 3D printing
>
> 2 - additive fabrication
>
> 2 - layered manufacturing
>
> 2 - additive manufacturing
>
> 2 - rapid manufacturing
>
> 1 - layered freeforming
> 1 - part growing
>
> 1 - freeform fabrication
>
> 1 - layer-based manufacturing
>
> 1 - RP
>
> 1 - rapid additive manufacturing
>
> 1 - grown parts
>
>
>
> As you can see, our industry is not in total agreement when it
> comes to terminology. It's all over the place. One conclusion,
> however, is that "rapid prototyping" is not going to be the
> catch-all term in the future. It barely made the list. Forty percent
> favored "3D printing," with all others carrying little weight.
>
>
>
> If you have not yet provided an opinion, it's not too late. Send
> your preference to the list or to me, and if I receive several, I
> will do a second round of reporting.
>
>
>
> I hope this exercise has reopened the discussion and caused some
> of us to think more deeply about the terminology we use to
> communicate to the world. I believe it shows that we may face some
> terminology challenges this week at the ASTM meeting. I look forward
> to continuing this discussion in Philadelphia.
>
>
>
> Thank you for your contributions!
>
>
>
> Cheers,
>
>
>
> Terry
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From: Terry Wohlers
>
> To: RP-ML
>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 9:15 AM
>
> Subject: [rp-ml] International Terminology Standards
>
>
>
> Greetings,
>
>
>
> First, I'd like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and hope that it
> is filled with peace and happiness.
>
>
>
> Next week, ASTM is hosting an organizational meeting to discuss
> industry standards and I hope you can attend. Details are at
> http://wohlersassociates.com/astm.html. The use of terminology will
> be a part of these discussions. Over the past several years, I've
> put a lot of thought into the terms that we use in our industry and
> have come to the conclusion that there's no right or wrong terms,
> although some are better than others at communicating our thoughts.
> In preparation for next week's meeting, I'd like to initiate some
> discussion on the subject. I will share ideas, and hopefully some
> consensus, from the members of this list.
>
>
>
> For many years, "rapid prototyping (RP)" has been a popular term,
> and rightly so because prototyping has been the most popular
> application of additive fabrication (AF) technology. However, it is
> one of many applications as AF expands into new areas and
> industries. Consequently, a growing number of people are using terms
> such as "additive fabrication" or "additive manufacturing" when
> referring to the group of processes (e.g., fused deposition
> modeling, 3DP from Z Corp., laser sintering, etc.) that build parts
> layer by layer. Stratasys and 3D Systems have adopted the term
> "additive fabrication" as a catch-all term, although I cannot say
> whether it has become an official corporate standard at either
> company. Maybe. The mainstream press-when our industry is lucky
> enough to get included in it-uses "3D printing" most frequently.
> Among industry insiders, 3D printing refers to a group of AF
> processes that are relatively low cost, easy to use, and office
> friendly. Some think of the process from Z Corp. when hearing this
> term. Others may think of PolyJet from Objet Geometries.
>
>
>
> AF processes are being used for a range of applications including
> concept design and modeling, fit and function testing, patterns for
> castings, and mold and die tooling. They are also used for fixture
> and assembly tools, custom and replacement part manufacturing,
> special edition products, short-run production, and series
> manufacturing. Prototyping is one of many applications and that's
> why "RP" is no longer suitable in most instances as a catch-all
> term. In fact, many companies resist the idea of using a prototyping
> method for part manufacturing, so using this term could stifle AF's
> transition to manufacturing applications.
>
>
>
> The term "additive manufacturing" is fine, although because
> manufacturing is an application and not a technology, I believe it
> is plagued with problems, similar to "rapid prototyping." Consider,
> for example, this sentence: "My company is using additive
> manufacturing for manufacturing." It's confusing. Now, consider
> this: "My company is using solid freeform fabrication for
> manufacturing." Much cleaner. I'm not suggesting that we use "solid
> freeform fabrication;" I'm using it here to illustrate a point. I
> believe it works much better when the catch-all term does not
> include the name of an application. That way it can be used cleanly
> for all applications of the technology.
>
>
>
> Since 2005 I've used the catch-all term "additive fabrication" in
> our company's publications, presentations, and communications. It's
> not perfect, but it works. In the future, I truly believe that "3D
> printing" will become the most popular term. When I'm describing AF
> technology to a relative or someone I'm seated next to on an
> airplane, I use 3D printing because there's a better chance that
> he/she will understand what I'm saying. It's simple and easy to say.
> I prefer it over alternatives, but 3D printing currently means
> something else to many people in our industry. This is likely to
> change. An estimated 74% of all systems sold in 2007 were classified
> as a 3D printer and each year this percentage increases.
>
>
>
> If we were to let nature take its course, which term do you think
> would become the most popular in 5-7 years? In other words, which
> catch-all term do you feel has the greatest chance for success as AF
> works its way more deeply into both technical and consumer markets.
> Answering this question will help guide our thinking next week.
>
>
> Thanks!
>
>
>
> Terry
>
> ************
> Terry Wohlers
> Wohlers Associates, Inc.
> OakRidge Business Park
> 1511 River Oak Drive
> Fort Collins, Colorado 80525 USA
> 970-225-0086
> Fax 970-225-2027
> tw@wohlersassociates.com
> http://wohlersassociates.com
>
>
>
>
>
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Received on Wed Jan 14 09:21:46 2009