This paper proposes a novel integrated system of rapid product development based on rapid prototyping, and develops anetworked manufacturing service system which offers better support for the rapid product development in small and mediumsized enterprises by taking full advantage of the quickly evolving computer network and information technologies. Thearchitecture of the networked manufacturing service system is presented. Furthermore, some of the key issues, includingmodelling and planning a manufacturing chain, selecting feasible collaborative manufacturers, queuing a manufacturing task,using the synchronously collaborative work environment, and constructing a suitable running platform, are described in detail.Java-enabled solution, together with web techniques, is employed for building such a networked service system. Finally, anactual example is provided illustrating the application of this service system.

Traditional processes for machining mould cavities are lengthy and costly. Electro-discharge machining (EDM) is the most commonlyused technique to obtain complex mould cavities. However, some electrodes are difficult to fabricate because of the complexity. Applyingrapid prototyping (RP) technology to fabricate an abrading tool which is used to abrade graphite EDM electrodes, the cost and cycle-time cangreatly be reduced. The paper describes the work being conducted in this area by the authors. This technique will find widespread applicationsin rapid steel mould manufacturing.

针对熔模铸造和快速原型制造本身对壳体原型件的需求，提出一种快速原型的抽壳简化方法，即利用零件的STL（STereolithography）模型及其分层信息，将零件原型的抽壳近似为沿分层方向的水平面偏置和层轮廓偏置，使得原型件的抽壳处理不受其形状复杂程度的影响，从而避开直接对sTL模型抽壳所遇到的障碍，极大地简化了零件原型的抽壳处理，提高了抽壳效率。工程实例表明该方法的正确性和实用性，缩短了零件原型制作时间，降低了成本。