Rapid Prototyping Methodologies for Commercial Application

Step into the future of product development

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Course Dates

STARTS ON

July 17, 2024

Course Duration

DURATION

8 weeks, online
4–6 hours per week

Course Fee
Course Fee

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Reimagine Product Development With Rapid Prototyping

Consider how your company brings a product to market. Then imagine if you could make the process more efficient and less expensive. Rapid prototyping allows you to do just that. By quickly transforming ideas into hyperrealistic models, you can fine-tune physical products to customer requirements and create efficiencies that yield an enduring competitive advantage.

This program provides a comprehensive introduction to the applications of rapid prototyping technology, giving you the knowledge to answer questions such as:

How do I develop a prototype that emulates the look, feel, and function of a desired product?

How do I identify the most efficient manufacturing process?

How can rapid prototyping help me decrease costs, improve quality, and innovate for the future?

The Value of Rapid Prototyping

From Months to Weeks

Potential reduction in design-to-production timeline

SOURCE: XOMETRY

2–10X



Potential cost savings for prototypes

SOURCE: XOMETRY

Key Takeaways

  • Learn rapid prototyping fundamentals and the various techniques for developing prototypes
  • Discover how rapid prototyping can increase agility in design and manufacturing
  • Understand how to map desired product attributes to concept prototype attributes
  • Analyze the benefits and drawbacks of serial and parallel fabrication processes
  • Learn how to make fabrication decisions that define strategies for creating and assessing the effectiveness of a prototype
  • Assess data gathered from concept prototypes to make smart decisions on developing your desired product
  • Identify how to assess and optimize the cost value of a rapid prototype
  • Discover the future trends and technologies used to enhance rapid prototyping

Program Highlights

  • Learn the applications of rapid prototyping technology by exploring the development of MIT’s Project Manus (COVID-19) face shield, designed by Professor Martin Culpepper, program leader and an expert in the field, and a team of his colleagues
  • Analyze, assess, and apply your learnings in a capstone project as you work on a prototype
  • Benefit from a live faculty session and weekly office hours with learning facilitators

Who Is This Program For?

Product managers and designers seeking to make design and fabrication decisions that will lead to more efficient product development

Business leaders and functional heads interested in using prototyping to refine product concepts and optimize resource allocation

Product engineers responsible for exploring, revising, and validating prototype concepts

Program Experience

Icon of capstone project

Capstone project

Icon of case studies

Case studies

Icon of assignments

Assignments

Icon of discussions

Discussions

Icon of try-it activities

Interactive try-it activities

Icon of workbook activities

Workbook activities

Icon of Polls and Quizzes

Polls and quizzes

Program Curriculum

Module 1:

The Rapid Prototyping Landscape

Learn the essentials of rapid prototyping and understand the benefits it brings to the engineering design process.

Module 2:

Concept Prototype Attribute Mapping

Discover the importance of developing a concept prototype (CP), including estimating costs and identifying design errors.

Module 3:

Common “Go-To” Rapid Prototyping Technologies

Explore the characteristics of different manufacturing processes, and understand the benefits and drawbacks of various types of fabrication.

Module 4:

Traditional Fabrication Processes

Dive deeper into parallel fabrication, and learn to select the best process for a given scenario.

Module 5:

Smart Design, Fabrication, and Performance Assessment Decisions

Explore the fundamentals of creating a prototyping plan and learn to make strategic decisions for rapid prototyping.

Module 6:

Designing Concept Prototypes (CP) that Emulate Desired Products (DP)

Learn to develop a hypothesis for an idea, perform a concept test, and analyze the results.

Module 7:

Assessing the Cost and Value of Rapid Prototyping

Discover how to leverage rapid prototyping to reduce costs and improve quality.

Module 8:

The Future of Manufacturing

Examine the future of machine learning in the context of rapid prototyping, and discover the importance of rapid prototyping in medical research, health, and welfare. Then, see how 3D printing is used in the rapid prototype manufacturing process.

Module 1:

The Rapid Prototyping Landscape

Learn the essentials of rapid prototyping and understand the benefits it brings to the engineering design process.

Module 5:

Smart Design, Fabrication, and Performance Assessment Decisions

Explore the fundamentals of creating a prototyping plan and learn to make strategic decisions for rapid prototyping.

Module 2:

Concept Prototype Attribute Mapping

Discover the importance of developing a concept prototype (CP), including estimating costs and identifying design errors.

Module 6:

Designing Concept Prototypes (CP) that Emulate Desired Products (DP)

Learn to develop a hypothesis for an idea, perform a concept test, and analyze the results.

Module 3:

Common “Go-To” Rapid Prototyping Technologies

Explore the characteristics of different manufacturing processes, and understand the benefits and drawbacks of various types of fabrication.

Module 7:

Assessing the Cost and Value of Rapid Prototyping

Discover how to leverage rapid prototyping to reduce costs and improve quality.

Module 4:

Traditional Fabrication Processes

Dive deeper into parallel fabrication, and learn to select the best process for a given scenario.

Module 8:

The Future of Manufacturing

Examine the future of machine learning in the context of rapid prototyping, and discover the importance of rapid prototyping in medical research, health, and welfare. Then, see how 3D printing is used in the rapid prototype manufacturing process.

Faculty

Profile picture of the faculty Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT - MARTIN CULPEPPER

Martin Culpepper

Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT

Professor Culpepper’s research concentrates on the invention, design, and fabrication of high-performance machine systems. He focuses on inventing new technologies in areas wherein conventional technology is insufficient or impracticable, in addition to advances.. More info

Guest Speakers

Guest speakers comment on their career paths, advice for entry-level learners, various prototyping issues, and themes that arise in their professional roles.

Faculty Member

Faez Ahmad

Assistant Professor, MIT

Faculty Member Elazer Edelman

Elazer Edelman

Director, Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, MIT, Edward J. Poitras Professor in Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Senior Attending Physician, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Faculty Member

Amos Winter

Ratan N. Tata Career Development Professor; Associate Professor

Faculty Member John Hart

John Hart

Professor of Mechanical Engineering; Director, Laboratory for Manufacturing and Productivity (LMP); MechE Maker Czar

Certificate

Example image of certificate that will be awarded upon successful completion of the programme

Certificate

Get recognized! Upon successful completion of this program, MIT xPRO grants a certificate of completion to participants and four Continuing Education Units (CEUs). This program is graded as a pass or fail; participants must receive 75% to pass and obtain the certificate of completion.

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Note: After successful completion of the program, your verified digital certificate will be emailed to you, at no additional cost, with the name you used when registering for the program. All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of MIT.

FAQs

  • How do I know if this program is right for me?

    After reviewing the information on the program landing page, we recommend you submit the short form above to gain access to the program brochure, which includes more in-depth information. If you still have questions on whether this program is a good fit for you, please email learner.success@emeritus.org, and a dedicated program advisor will follow-up with you very shortly.


    Are there any prerequisites for this program?

    Some programs do have prerequisites, particularly the more technical ones. This information will be noted on the program landing page, as well as in the program brochure. If you are uncertain about program prerequisites and your capabilities, please email us at the ID mentioned above.


    Note that, unless otherwise stated on the program web page, all programs are taught in English and proficiency in English is required.


    What is the typical class profile?

    More than 50 percent of our participants are from outside the United States. Class profiles vary from one cohort to the next, but, generally, our online certificates draw a highly diverse audience in terms of professional experience, industry, and geography — leading to a very rich peer learning and networking experience.


    What other dates will this program be offered in the future?

    Check back to this program web page or email us to inquire if future program dates or the timeline for future offerings have been confirmed yet.

  • How much time is required each week?

    Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page.


    How will my time be spent?

    We have designed this program to fit into your current working life as efficiently as possible. Time will be spent among a variety of activities including:



    • Engaging with recorded video lectures from faculty
    • Attending webinars and office hours, as per the specific program schedule
    • Reading or engaging with examples of core topics
    • Completing knowledge checks/quizzes and required activities
    • Engaging in moderated discussion groups with your peers
    • Completing your final project, if required

    The program is designed to be highly interactive while also allowing time for self-reflection and to demonstrate an understanding of the core topics through various active learning exercises. Please email us if you need further clarification on program activities.


    What is it like to learn online with the learning collaborator, Emeritus?

    More than 300,000 learners across 200 countries have chosen to advance their skills with Emeritus and its educational learning partners. In fact, 90 percent of the respondents of a recent survey across all our programs said that their learning outcomes were met or exceeded.

    All the contents of the course would be made available to students at the commencement of the course. However, to ensure the program delivers the desired learning outcomes the students may appoint Emeritus to manage the delivery of the program in a cohort-based manner the cost of which is already included in the overall course fee of the course.

    A dedicated program support team is available 24/5 (Monday to Friday) to answer questions about the learning platform, technical issues, or anything else that may affect your learning experience.


    How do I interact with other program participants?

    Peer learning adds substantially to the overall learning experience and is an important part of the program. You can connect and communicate with other participants through our learning platform.


    What is the relationship between Emeritus and MIT xPRO?

    Emeritus and MIT xPRO collaborate to create and deliver educational programs. None of these programs are Title IV-eligible.

  • What are the requirements to earn the certificate?

    Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week, so you can gauge what will be required before you enroll. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page. All programs are designed to fit into your working life.

    This program is scored as a pass or no-pass; participants must complete the required activities to pass and obtain the certificate of completion. Some programs include a final project submission or other assignments to obtain passing status. This information will be noted in the program brochure. Please email us if you need further clarification on any specific program requirements.


    What type of certificate will I receive?

    Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a smart digital certificate. The smart digital certificate can be shared with friends, family, schools, or potential employers. You can use it on your cover letter, resume, and/or display it on your LinkedIn profile.
    The digital certificate will be sent approximately two weeks after the program, once grading is complete.


    Can I get the hard copy of the certificate?

    No, only verified digital certificates will be issued upon successful completion. This allows you to share your credentials on social platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.


    Do I receive alumni status after completing this program?

    No, there is no alumni status granted for this program. In some cases, there are credits that count toward a higher level of certification. This information will be clearly noted in the program brochure.


    How long will I have access to the learning materials?

    You will have access to the online learning platform and all the videos and program materials for 12 months following the program start date. Access to the learning platform is restricted to registered participants per the terms of agreement.

  • What equipment or technical requirements are there for this program?

    Participants will need the latest version of their preferred browser to access the learning platform. In addition, Microsoft Office and a PDF viewer are required to access documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDF files, and transcripts.


    Do I need to be online to access the program content?

    Yes, the learning platform is accessed via the internet, and video content is not available for download. However, you can download files of video transcripts, assignment templates, readings, etc. For maximum flexibility, you can access program content from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device.

    Video lectures must be streamed via the internet, and any livestream webinars and office hours will require an internet connection. However, these sessions are always recorded, so you may view them later.

  • Can I still register if the registration deadline has passed?

    Yes, you can register up until seven days past the published start date of the program without missing any of the core program material or learnings.


    What is the program fee, and what forms of payment do you accept?

    The program fee is noted at the top of this program web page and usually referenced in the program brochure as well.

    • Flexible payment options are available (see details below as well as at the top of this program web page next to FEE).
    • Tuition assistance is available for participants who qualify. Please email learner.success@emeritus.org.

    What if I don’t have a credit card? Is there another method of payment accepted?

    Yes, you can do the bank remittance in the program currency via wire transfer or debit card. Please contact your program advisor, or email us for details.


    I was not able to use the discount code provided. Can you help?

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    Is there an option to make flexible payments for this program?

    Yes, the flexible payment option allows a participant to pay the program fee in installments. This option is made available on the payment page and should be selected before submitting the payment.


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  • What is the program refund and deferral policy?

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