Telemanufacturing

M.Sc.The technique known as "Rapid Prototyping" constitutes a technology that is already saving large corporations time and money in respect of prototyping. Currently, Rapid Prototyping machines are, however, still expensive to purchase and maintain. In order to allow more people to make use of Rapid Prototyping machines, certain businesses are specialising in rendering a Rapid Prototyping service. Rapid Prototyping service bureaux render such service by selling machine time. To allow people to make use of the service, designs are submitted across a distance by means of telemanufacturing. To enable a wide variety of users to avail themselves of this service, certain checks and balances must, however, be put into place. These checks and balances must test whether or not a valid job has been submitted, and if so, the submitter has to be assisted in deciding upon settings. In order to submit a job from anywhere in the world, the Internet is harnassed for telemanufacturing. Once remote submission has been made safe and convenient, more businesses and individuals could derive benefit from Rapid Prototyping. This dissertation has, therefore, been undertaken to identify the prerequisites for Rapid Prototyping. Once a job has been submitted, it has to be checked for errors and the user has to be advised on building types and recommendations. For this, an agent is used. In this way, problems are prevented, should faulty jobs be sent to a Rapid Prototyping machine. Once a job has been submitted, it is scheduled by a queue manager in order to maximise machine usage. Rapid Prototyping has the potential in future to become as commonplace as printers. In terms of this technology, a design would, therefore, be printed in three dimensions for instant verification by the user. The very advantage of being able to hold a new product in one's hands is self-evident. The technology that is being developed today will, therefore, be successfully used in future scenarios