Using rapid prototyping to teach design for automated assembly principles

This paper describes the use of rapid prototyping to teach students design for automated assembly (DFAA) principles. Traditionally students have been unable to implement their DFAA solutions to real problems during the course of a standard term due to limitations of time and equipment. With rapid prototyping, however, students can not only complete a full design cycle, but they can test their solutions and complete iterations. This in turn leads to an increase in students' understanding of DFAA, was well as to their confidence that they can correctly apply the principles.