What is Rapid Prototyping?

Ideation
Brainstorm Session

IGES
An acronym for Initial Graphics Exchange Specification. A term defined as a neutral format for exchanging CAD data between software programs.

Increment
A militarily useful and supportable operational capability that can be effectively developed,produced or acquired, deployed and sustained. Each increment of capability will have its own set of thresholds and objectives set by the user. ~ Taken from a memorandum f understanding written by US Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, E.C. Aldridge, Jr. in 2002.

Indirect (fabrication) Processes
Generally refers to tooling which is made by using an RP-generated part as a pattern for a secondary process as opposed to directly fabricating a tool using the RP process itself.

Initial Graphic Exchange Specification (IGES)
A standard neutral format for the exchange of 2D and 3D CAD data. STEP is a follow-on to IGES and stands for Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data.

Impact Resistance
Relative susceptibility of plastics to fracture by shock, as indicated by the energy expended by a standard pendulum type impact machine in breaking a standard specimen in one blow.

Impact Strength
(1) The characteristic of a material relating to its ability to withstand impact from another object. (2) The ability of a material to withstand shock loading. (3) The work done in fracturing, under shock loading, a specified test specimen in a specified manner.

Impenetrability
The characteristic of a material relating to its ability to withstand penetration, or piercing, by another substance. impermeable Unable to be penetrated, or entered, by fluids.

Implant
Normally, an implant is in intimate contact with tissue in a way that a contact lens is not. While a heart valve is clearly an implant, so is a dental implant or a catheter which is half-in, half-out.

Injection Molding
A molding procedure whereby a heat-softened plastic material is forced from a cylinder into a relatively cool cavity which gives the article the desired shape.

Injection Molding Cycle
Represents the total of the durations of all operations performed within in the injection molding machine and necessary to manufacture a part.

Injection Pressure
Pressure applied by the screw against the molding compound to push it into the mold in the injection process.

Insulation Resistance
The electrical resistance of an insulating material to a direct voltage. It is determined by measuring the leakage of current which flows through the insulation.

Investment
Long-term provision of capital to replace used means of production (e.g. machines) and to procure new ones.

Ion Exchangers
Inorganic and organic substances that can exchange their own ions for others without undergoing a change in stability; used to soften (desalinate) water, for example.

Ionomer Resins
Polymers which have ethylene as their major component, but containing both covalent and ionic bonds. The polymers exhibit very strong interchain ionic forces. The anions hang from the hydrocarbon chain and the cations are metallic-magnesium, zinc. These resins have many of the same features as polyethylene plus high transparency, tenacity, resilience and increased resistance to oils, greases and solvents. Fabrication is carried out as with polyethylene.

Isotropy
Condition in which properties are completely independent of direction (isotropic), i.e., the same in all directions.