Having the ability to reconstruct items using plastic mould has made a difference in many ways. One example would be the Buddha of Infinite Light, Amida. This is a carved figure made of wood and lacquered. Believed to have originated in the 13th century, it is a wonderful piece of art that tells us much about the earlier cultures. However, the Buddha is believed to have originally been adorned with a necklace, topknot and crown.

The Buddha was the inspiration it took to build another one using rapid prototyping. Adding the missing adornments was one of the purposes for doing this. The reconstructed Buddha was made using 0.1 mm layers and was based on 3D scanning at close range. In addition, digital modeling was used and the end result was the Buddha with the accessories that were believed to be missing.

The use of selective laser sintering made the reconstruction process possible and allowed very high definition. It was constructed in one piece. The original is displayed at the World Culture Gallery in Liverpool. Other sculptors have used the technological advances made in the world of rapid prototyping to make other intricately detailed pieces for displaying in art galleries the world over.

Using computer aided design (CAD) to acquire the designs of the object for rapid prototyping, the layers are broken down. This is the model that is used to create the nearly identical physical model. By breaking down the layers, this allows the user to create the layers needed to construct the actual model. They are put together to form the shape desired. The main advantage to the process is that any shape can be made simply by using this method.

Using the methods of rapid prototyping models normally can be produced in a matter of hours. This does however, depend on the number of models being produced at the same time and the size of the model. The intricate detail of the model being made is another aspect that must be considered. In addition, the machine being used can affect the time it takes to make the model.

Rapid prototyping is not always rapid. As you can see, there are many factors that have an effect on the time it takes to construct a form using this method. There are many companies in the technological field that are available for rapid prototyping. The big difference is the method used to build the layers when creating the model.

The boundary that exists between the CAD software and the machine being used is the STL file format. This is what predicts the shape of the model with the use of facets that are triangular in shape. The smallest facets generate the best quality. While some technologies use a softening or melting process to generate the layers, there are others that use liquids such as thermosets that have already been cured.

One of the types of rapid prototype is freeform fabrication. With this method the use of two materials - one for constructing the model and one for the support - is used and the support material is later dismantled. With the use of rapid prototyping it is possible to automatically construct objects using the technology of additive manufacturing. This allows the creation of two objects - one virtual and one physical - that are typically identical. Using this fairly new technology the sky is the limit.

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