In recent ten years, with the formation of global market integration, the competition in manufacturing industry is very fierce. Especially with the rapid popularization of computer technology and the wide application of CAD/CAM technology, RP technology develops at an unusually high speed, showing strong vitality and broad application prospects. Rapid prototyping technology has developed rapidly with its high integration, high flexibility and high speed. At present, there are dozens of rapid prototyping technologies, among which there are four basic types: stereo lithography equipment method, layered solid manufacturing method, selective laser sintering method and fused deposition manufacturing method. FDM (fused deposition manufacturing) process is also called fused deposition manufacturing. The process is based on thermoplastic filaments, which are melted into liquid by the extrusion head of the heater. The extrusion head is controlled by a computer, and moves accurately along the profile of each section of the part, so that the molten thermoplastic filament is extruded through the nozzle, covered on the built part, and quickly solidified to form a layer of material in a very short time. After that, the extrusion head moves up a short distance in the axial direction to build the next layer of material. In this way, a solid model or part is piled up layer by layer from bottom to top. The process has the characteristics of simple use and maintenance, low cost and high speed. Generally, the prototype with complex degree can be formed in a few hours, and it is pollution-free.

In addition to the four most familiar technologies mentioned above, many other technologies have been put into practical application, such as three-dimensional printing technology, light shielding technology, direct shell method, direct sintering technology, holographic interference manufacturing and so on.