Rapid Prototyping
Although rapid prototyping has been around since the 1980’s there are still new machines, applications and materials being developed to support this technology. Rapid prototyping is an additive process as opposed to a subtractive process like traditional machining. New designs interlinking assembly of parts are possible which would be impossible to make with traditional manufacturing technology. Consider a chain being made as one piece instead of joining the individual links together. Imaginative, creative, new ideas are yet to be realized as this technology is applied to its full extent. New applications in engineering, art, animation/claymation, and more are yet to be actualized.

Medical Modeling
In the spring of 2006 I began collaboration with MUSC maxillofacial prosthodontic clinic. On May 1st we completed our first clinical trial of creating a wax pattern of an ear. A finished prosthesis for a patient who had been born without an ear was created from a mold that was created from the wax pattern of the ear. A significant amount of time was saved due to the fact that the wax patterns are typically created by hand. This is just one application of rapid prototyping that may be used in a hospital setting.

It is my goal to establish a rapid prototyping laboratory that will be used for design related courses and also will provide medical models for surgical applications. Beyond providing models this laboratory will aid surgeons in Surgical Process Planning (SPP). Instead of just looking at 2D CT scans medical imaging software will convert CT or MRI’s into 3D images to aid surgeons in pre-operative surgical planning. Joint collaborations may be established using video conferencing and breeze meeting to allow virtual interaction of medical imaging software here at Clemson University and at individual hospital sites. Potential applications exist for maxillofacial, head and neck, and orthopedic surgeons. See the Rapid Prototyping Laboratory web page as this engineering enterprise model develops.