JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD B.Tech IV ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING Previous Question Paper (September - 2021 - R16)

Compression in product development, often referred to as Time-to-Market (TTM) compression, is the strategic reduction of the duration between the initial conceptualization of a product and its commercial availability. Its need arises from several critical factors:

• Competitive Advantage: Being the first to introduce a product allows a company to capture significant market share, establish brand loyalty, and set industry standards before competitors can respond.
• Increased Profitability: A shorter development cycle extends the period during which a product can generate revenue before it becomes obsolete or faces intense price competition.
• Risk Mitigation: Rapid development cycles allow for earlier market feedback. If a product design is flawed, the company can pivot or iterate quickly, minimizing the financial losses associated with long-term development of unsuccessful concepts.
• Technological Obsolescence: In industries with rapid technological evolution, products must reach the market quickly to ensure the underlying technology remains current and relevant.
• Cost Efficiency: While accelerating development requires higher initial investment, it reduces overhead costs associated with extended labor, facility usage, and delayed revenue streams.

Rapid prototyping systems are generally classified based on the physical state of the raw material used to build the part:

• Liquid-based Systems: These systems use photopolymer resins that undergo polymerization when exposed to a light source (typically a laser or UV light). Examples include Stereolithography (SLA) and Solid Ground Curing (SGC).
• Powder-based Systems: These systems utilize materials in powder form, which are fused or bonded together using heat or chemical binders. Examples include Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), and Three-Dimensional Printing (3DP).
• Solid-based Systems: These systems use materials in solid form, such as sheets, filaments, or pellets, which are cut or melted to form layers. Examples include Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), which uses thermoplastic filaments, and Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM), which uses adhesive-coated paper or plastic sheets.