Rapid Prototyping (RP) is a totally automatic generative manufacturing
technique based on a “divide-and-conquer” strategy called ‘slicing’. Simple
slicing used on 2.5-axis kinematics of the existing RP machines is responsible for
the staircase error. Although thinner slices will have less error, the slice thickness
has practical limits. Visible Slicing overcomes these limitations. A few visible
slices exactly represent the object. Each visible slice can be realized using a 3- axis kinematics machine from two opposite directions. Visible slicing is
implemented on Segmented Object Manufacturing (SOM) machine under
development. SOM can produce soft large prototypes faster and cheaper with
accuracy comparable to that of CNC machining.Mechanical Engineerin
