Decision Making for Rapid Prototyping Technologies of Sustainable Products

Abstract

The prototyping of products by additive and subtractive technology can vary in: quality, time and costs, depending on the characteristics of the products. The selection of technology often is conditioned the decision of the designer/engineer or operator because of the type of material, size and accuracy. Furthermore, the need to incorporate environmental and sustainable attribute has been addressed by important factors that can facilitate the different approaches that act on sustainable product diversity. This paper presents a decision making model to assist the selection of rapid prototyping technology more adequate on sustainable product conception. This proposes focus to improve all aspects of the triangle called "cost-quality-time" and provides an effective design of sustainable product, process and its manufacturing. We used the concepts of Design for Manufacturing, Computer Aided Design, Rapid Product Development and Sustainable Development for one sustainable product of relevant structure and material (lightweight dual) to evaluate and validate the proposed model. In the lightweight dual product from the additive process (SLS technology) has been most successful in view of the purpose of the product and its functions, lower cost, shorter execution time, good surface finish, dimensional accuracy and product formation in the injected. The results show comparisons between the prototyping technologies based on decision making criteria to select the technology for designing sustainable products.