Process for tempering rapid prototype parts

1. A rapid prototype tempering process comprising

producing a rapid prototype part from a base material;

creating voids in the rapid prototype part, the voids comprising a plurality of separated, elongated tunnels, each tunnel having uniform diameter and extending through the rapid prototype part from one surface of the rapid prototype part to another surface of the rapid prototype part;

filling the voids with a filler material that changes at least one characteristic of the rapid prototype part; and

coating the rapid prototype part with a coating material, after the voids are filled with the filler material, to enhance at least one of the strength and the durability of the rapid prototype part.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the producing step comprises producing the rapid prototype part by stereolithography.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the producing step comprises producing the rapid prototype part by selective laser sintering.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the producing step comprises producing the rapid prototype part by casting.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the creating step occurs concurrently with the producing step.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the base material is different than the filler material.

7. A rapid prototype tempering process comprising

producing a rapid prototype part from a base material, the rapid prototype part having voids, the voids comprising a plurality of separated, elongated tunnels, each tunnel having a uniform diameter and extending through the rapid prototype part from one surface of the rapid prototype part to another surface of the rapid prototype; and

filling the voids with a filler material that changes at least one characteristic of the prototype part, wherein the base material and the filler material are the same type of material, but of a different grade.

8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the base material comprises one or more of the following types of materials: acrylics, epoxies, nylons, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene, polyethers, urethanes, and polyesters.

9. The process of claim 8 , wherein the filler material comprises one or more of the following types of materials: polyesters, polystyrene, styrene, talc, calcium, fiberglass, titanium dioxide, methacrylate monomer, urethanes, adhesives, silicones, peroxide hardener, rubber resins, polyethers, acrylics, nylons, polyethylene, acetels, epoxies, ceramics, MC carbides, styrene monomers, cyandacrylate, acetone, and methyl ethyl ketone.

10. The process of claim 1 , wherein the filler material comprises one or more of the following types of materials: polyesters, polystyrene, styrene, talc, calcium, fiberglass, titanium dioxide, methacrylate monomer, urethanes, adhesives, silicones, peroxide hardener, rubber resins, polyethers, acrylics, nylons, polyethylene, acetels, epoxies, ceramics, MC carbides, styrene monomers, cyandacrylate, acetone, and methyl ethyl ketone.

11. A rapid prototype tempering process comprising

producing a rapid prototype part from a base material;

creating voids in the rapid prototype part; and

filling the voids with a filler material that changes at least one characteristic of the prototype part, wherein the voids created during the creating step comprise cylindrical tunnels, the tunnels having a uniform cross section and extending through the rapid prototype part from one surface of the rapid prototype part to another surface of the rapid prototype.

12. The process of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the cylindrical tunnels have a bend within the rapid prototype part.

13. The process of claim 11 , wherein the tunnels extend from a first port on an external surface of the prototype part to a second port on the external surface.

14. The process of claim 1 , wherein the filling step comprises substantially completely filling the voids.

15. A rapid prototype tempering process comprising

producing a rapid prototype part from a base material;

creating at least one void in the rapid prototype part, the at least one void comprising a cylindrical tunnel through the rapid prototype part, the cylindrical tunnel having a uniform cross section and extending through the rapid prototype part from one surface of the rapid prototype part to another surface of the rapid prototype; and

filling the at least one void with a filler material that changes at least one characteristic of the prototype part.

16. The process of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the producing step and the filling step comprises the use of a printing process.

17. The process of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the producing step and the filling step comprises the use of an extruding process.

18. The process of claim 1 , wherein the voids created during the creating step comprise cylindrical tunnels.

19. The process of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the producing step and the filling step comprises the use of a printing process.

20. The process of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the producing step and the filling step comprises the use of an extruding process.

21. The process of claim 7 , further comprising coating the rapid prototype part with a coating material to enhance one of the strength and the durability of the rapid prototype part.

22. The process of claim 7 , wherein the base material comprises one or more of the following types of materials: acrylics, epoxies, nylons, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene, polyethers, urethanes, and polyesters.

23. The process of claim 7 , wherein the filler material comprises one or more of the following types of materials: polyesters, polystyrene, styrene, talc, calcium, fiberglass, titanium dioxide, methacrylate monomer, urethanes, adhesives, silicones, peroxide hardener, rubber resins, polyethers, acrylics, nylons, polyethylene, acetels, epoxies, ceramics, MC carbides, styrene monomers, cyandacrylate, acetone, and methyl ethyl ketone.

24. The process of claim 7 , wherein the voids created during the creating step comprise cylindrical tunnels.

25. The process of claim 24 , wherein at least one of the cylindrical tunnels have a bend within the rapid prototype part.

26. The process of claim 7 , wherein the filling step comprises substantially completely filling the voids.

27. The process of claim 11 , wherein the base material is different than the filler material.

28. The process of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the producing step and the filling step comprises the use of a printing process.

29. The process of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the producing step and the filling step comprises the use of an extruding process.

30. The process of claim 11 , wherein the producing step comprises producing the rapid prototype part by stereolithography.

31. The process of claim 11 , wherein the producing step comprises producing the rapid prototype part by selective laser sintering.

32. The process of claim 11 , wherein the producing step comprises producing the rapid prototype part by casting.

33. The process of claim 11 , further comprising coating the rapid prototype part with a coating material, after the voids are filled with the filler material, to enhance one of the strength and the durability of the rapid prototype part.

34. The process of claim 11 , wherein the base material comprises one or more of the following types of materials: acrylics, epoxies, nylons, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene, polyethers, urethanes, and polyesters.

35. The process of claim 11 , wherein the filler material comprises one or more of the following types of materials: polyesters, polystyrene, styrene, talc, calcium, fiberglass, titanium dioxide, methacrylate monomer, urethanes, adhesives, silicones, peroxide hardener, rubber resins, polyethers, acrylics, nylons, polyethylene, acetels, epoxies, ceramics, MC carbides, styrene monomers, cyandacrylate, acetone, and methyl ethyl ketone.

36. The process of claim 11 , wherein additional voids created during the creating step comprise channels.

37. The process of claim 11 , wherein the filling step comprises substantially completely filling the voids.

38. The process of claim 15 , wherein the cylindrical tunnel has a bend within the rapid prototype part.

39. The process of claim 15 , wherein the cylindrical tunnel extends from a first port on an external surface of the prototype part to a second port on the external surface.

40. The process of claim 15 , wherein the base material is different than the filler material.

41. The process of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the producing step and the filling step comprises the use of a printing process.

42. The process of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the producing step and the filling step comprises the use of an extruding process.

43. The process of claim 15 , wherein the producing step comprises producing the rapid prototype part by stereolithography.

44. The process of claim 15 , wherein the producing step comprises producing the rapid prototype part by selective laser sintering.

45. The process of claim 15 , wherein the producing step comprises producing the rapid prototype part by casting.

46. The process of claim 15 , further comprising coating the rapid prototype part with a coating material, after the at least one void is filled with the filler material, to enhance one of the strength and the durability of the rapid prototype part.

47. The process of claim 15 , wherein the base material comprises one or more of the following types of materials: acrylics, epoxies, nylons, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene, polyethers, urethanes, and polyesters.

48. The process of claim 15 , wherein the filler material comprises one or more of the following types of materials: polyesters, polystyrene, styrene, talc, calcium, fiberglass, titanium dioxide, methacrylate monomer, urethanes, adhesives, silicones, peroxide hardener, rubber resins, polyethers, acrylics, nylons, polyethylene, acetels, epoxies, ceramics, MC carbides, styrene monomers, cyandacrylate, acetone, and methyl ethyl ketone.

49. The process of claim 15 , wherein additional voids created during the creating step comprise channels.

50. The process of claim 15 , wherein the filling step comprises substantially completely filling the voids.

51. The process of claim 15 , wherein the creating step occurs concurrently with the producing step.

52. The process of claim 15 , wherein the creating step, producing step, and filling step occur substantially simultaneously.

53. A rapid prototype tempering process comprising

producing a rapid prototype part from a base material;

creating voids in the rapid prototype part, the voids comprising a plurality of separated, elongated tunnels, each tunnel having uniform diameter and extending through the rapid prototype part from one surface of the rapid prototype part to another surface of the rapid prototype part;

filling the voids with a filler material substantially simultaneously with the step of creating the voids, the filler material changing at least one characteristic of the rapid prototype part; and

coating the rapid prototype part with a coating material, after the voids are filled with the filler material, to enhance at least one of the strength and the durability of the rapid prototype part.

54. A rapid prototype tempering process comprising

producing a rapid prototype part from a base material, the rapid prototype part having voids, the voids comprising a plurality of separated, elongated tunnels, each tunnel having a uniform diameter and extending through the rapid prototype part from one surface of the rapid prototype part to another surface of the rapid prototype; and

filling the voids with a filler material substantially simultaneously with the step of producing the rapid prototype part having voids, the filler material changing at least one characteristic of the prototype part, wherein the base material and the filler material are the same type of material, but of a different grade.

55. A rapid prototype tempering process comprising

producing a rapid prototype part from a base material;

creating voids in the rapid prototype part; and

filling the voids with a filler material substantially simultaneously with the step of creating the voids, the filler material changing at least one characteristic of the prototype part, wherein the voids created during the creating step comprise cylindrical tunnels, the tunnels having a uniform cross section and extending through the rapid prototype part from one surface of the rapid prototype part to another surface of the rapid prototype.

56. A rapid prototype tempering process comprising

producing a rapid prototype part from a base material;

creating at least one void in the rapid prototype part, the at least one void comprising a cylindrical tunnel through the rapid prototype part, the cylindrical tunnel having a uniform cross section and extending through the rapid prototype part from one surface of the rapid prototype part to another surface of the rapid prototype;

filling the at least one void with a filler material that changes at least one characteristic of the prototype part; and

wherein the creating step, producing step and filling step occur substantially simultaneously.