The expanding workspace of Rapid Prototyping will draw on the new developments
in geometric modeling. Volume modeling has substantial advantages over other modeling
schemes to meet the emerging requirements of Rapid Prototyping technology. It provides us with
a new approach to design complex geometry and topology. The integration of the volume
modeling and Rapid Prototyping technology will help us to fully exploit RP's ability to fabricate
objects with complex structures. This paper addresses our research and practice in a volume
modeling system toward Rapid Prototyping. Novel techniques in volumetric data manipulation,
NURBS volume models and triangular facet generation over solid models are presented.
Computer models designed by this system and their corresponding DTM products are also
shown atthe end of this paper.Mechanical Engineerin