manufacturing part 2: provel and politechnico di torino

car model prototype by the industrial design department at the politechnico di torino

one of the first uses of digital manufacturing was in the creation of prototypes for manufacturing. processes such as cnc milling, sterolithography and laser sintering allow manufactures to create models and full size prototypes of objects before mass production begins.

provel is an italian rapid prototyping and tooling company which has created a business from these processes. they create prototypes for a number of manufacturers, mostly in the automotive sector. provel began working in this advanced area in 1987. however since then, these technologies now have significantly lower barriers of entry. this is demonstrated by the design prototypes created by the industrial design program at the politechnico di torino. rapid prototyping technology is now feasible for design schools and small design studios. these two groups demonstrate the evolution and democratization of these technologies.

manufacturing: introduction manufacturing part 1: generation.x 2.0 manufacturing part 3: ponoko

cell phone prototype by the industrial design department at the politechnico di torino

ergonomic pen prototype by the industrial design department at the politechnico di torino

wheel rim prototype by the industrial design department at the politechnico di torino

‘needle, thread and knot’ sculptor’s model by claes oldenberg (stereo-lithography)

steering wheel prototype (‘nyal’: sintered nylon and aluminum)

architectural model for an unbuilt library by francesco borromini (natural resin cured by ultraviolet lasers)

toy puzzle (‘techvel’: stereo-lithography resin & ‘protovel’: sintered nylon and aluminum)

prototype for speaker (‘nyvel’ sintered nylon)

prototype for alessi pencil-holder (sintered thermoplastic)

fiat 500 automobile part (stereolithography resin)

lamp part for guzzini (laser stereo-lithography)