In the early days of rapid prototyping, product developers were ecstatic to have quickly produced parts that accurately indicated form and fit. But as compressed development cycles have placed more demands upon design engineers, they in turn demand more from their prototypes. They want RP parts that exhibit greater functionality, more durability, higher accuracy, and improved appearance. The key to meeting those demands is continued innovation in the realm of RP materials, and the companies that create such products have stepped up to the plate and delivered. In the past few years, the industry has witnessed an expanded range of RP materials that bring product designers ever closer to their ideal – making rapid prototypes that look and perform as well as production parts.