If someone said they wanted to show you equipment capable of rebuilding itself, you’d be forgiven for conjuring up a grusome movie image of Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator tending his wounds. RapMan, developed by researchers at the University of Bath, is one of the first of an emerging generation of machines that can make their own spare parts, and is now heading for classrooms after a debut at the BETT 2009 educational technology show.
Despite the name, RapMan is not gender-based. The name is derived from RP/RM technology (rapid prototyping/rapid manufacturing). Produced by Unimatic, the device allows students to build 3D models in plastics from a 2D design. It comes in a construction kit which students have to put together.
While objects are normally modelled in D&T by cutting away material (just like a mason chipping at stone), RapMan technology has a moving head that can build up layer upon layer of material (the same principle as a potter) to create simple 3D objects. The significance of this distinction for schools is that they only use the material they need to build the object so there is very little wastage.
The other distinction which was stirring great interest among D&T teachers at BETT 2009 was the price breakthrough of RapMan itself. This kind of technology simply was not available sub-£1,000. With the arrival of the RapMan at £750 plus the cost of polymers (or £550 for orders placed before January 31), schools and colleges now have access to affordable technology for teaching Rapid Prototyping.
