Rapid Prototyping Materials and Tooling (Coursera)

Rapid Prototyping Materials and Tooling (Coursera)

Hello, everyone! Welcome to this course on Rapid Prototyping Materials and Tooling. This is part of the Rapid Prototyping and Tooling specialization. In this course, I’ll cover the characteristics and appropriate uses of a variety of prototyping materials, including cardboard, plastic, wood, and aluminum. I’ll also cover some of the common forms of traditional machining used in making prototypes, as well as more advanced manufacturing tools such as 3D printers, laser cutters, and more!

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

By the end of this course, you should have a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of common prototyping materials and manufacturing processes, as well as the situations in which their use is most appropriate. The hope is that by having a better understanding of these materials and machines, you will be able to better develop high-quality prototypes. I’m excited to teach this course as I am really passionate about the content in it. So without further ado, let’s dive into the world of rapid prototyping!
Course 3 of 3 in the Rapid Prototyping and Tooling Specialization.

What You Will Learn
You will understand the strengths and weaknesses of common materials and tooling used for rapid prototyping and situations for when to use each one.

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Course Introduction
Hello, everyone! Welcome to this course on Rapid Prototyping Materials and Tooling. This is part of the Rapid Prototyping and Tooling specialization. In this course, I’ll cover the characteristics and appropriate uses of a variety of prototyping materials, including cardboard, plastic, wood, and aluminum. I’ll also cover some of the common forms of traditional machining used in making prototypes, as well as more advanced manufacturing tools such as 3D printers, laser cutters, and more! By the end of this course, you should have a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of common prototyping materials and manufacturing processes, as well as the situations in which their use is most appropriate. The hope is that by having a better understanding of these materials and machines, you will be able to better develop high-quality prototypes. There's a lot of really exciting content to cover in this course, so without further ado, let’s dive into the world of rapid prototyping!

WEEK 2
Module 1: Rapid Prototyping Materials
In this module, you will learn about basic material properties such as density, toughness, and strength. You will also learn about the different characteristics of common prototyping materials like cardboard, plastics, wood, and aluminum.

WEEK 3
Module 2: Traditional Machining
In this module, you will learn about the different types of traditional machining tools that are useful for making prototypes, such as the hack saw, bandsaw, chop saw, hack saw, drill press, lathe, and mill.

WEEK 4
Module 3: CNC Machining
In this module, you will learn about many different CNC machines that can be used to fabricate prototypes. In particular, this module will go into detail about the considerations and choices an engineer needs to make when making a part with a 3D printer or a laser cutter.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Using Rapid Prototyping in the Engineering Design Process (Coursera) Coursera
Arizona State University

Using Rapid Prototyping in the Engineering Design Process (Coursera)

Hello, everyone! Welcome to this course on Using Rapid Prototyping in the Engineering Design Process. This is part of the Rapid Prototyping and Tooling specialization. In this course, I’ll cover the engineering design process and how it can be used to solve open-ended problems. I’ll discuss the different stages of prototyping and why it is advantageous to produce prototypes rapidly. I’ll then discuss engineering drawings and how to communicate information about 3-dimensional objects on 2-dimensional mediums such as paper or a computer screen.

Jun 22nd 2026
4 Weeks
Supply Chains for Manufacturing: Inventory Analytics (edX) EdX
MIT,MITx

Supply Chains for Manufacturing: Inventory Analytics (edX)

Learn about effective supply chain strategies for companies that operate globally, with emphasis on how to plan and integrate supply chain components into a coordinated system. This course was formerly known as Supply Chains for Manufacturing I. A supply chain entails two or more parties that are linked together by material, information and money flows.

Mar 6th 2024
5-12 Weeks
Factory Automation: Shaping the Future of Manufacturing (Coursera) Coursera
Starweaver

Factory Automation: Shaping the Future of Manufacturing (Coursera)

This course provides a comprehensive understanding of factory automation, covering foundational concepts to practical applications. Participants explore the evolution of automation technology, including robotics and control systems, witnessing its role in optimizing production processes and enhancing productivity. Through real-world case studies, they learn how automation improves efficiency, safety, and innovation in manufacturing.

Jun 22nd 2026
4 Weeks
Manufacturing Process Control II (edX) EdX
MIT,MITx

Manufacturing Process Control II (edX)

Learn how to control process variation, including methods to design experiments that capture process behavior and understand means to control variability. As part of the Principles of Manufacturing MicroMasters program, this course will build on statistical process control foundations to add process modeling and optimization.Building on formal methods of designed experiments, the course develops highly applicable methods for creating robust processes with optimal quality.

Oct 17th 2023
5-12 Weeks
Autodesk Fusion 360 Integrated CAD/CAM/CAE (Coursera) Coursera
Autodesk

Autodesk Fusion 360 Integrated CAD/CAM/CAE (Coursera)

Design, engineering, and manufacturing are undergoing a digital transformation, and the need for a collaborative product development environment is becoming an ever-growing requirement. Autodesk® Fusion 360™ meets this need by connecting CAD, CAM, and CAE in a single cloud-based platform unlike any other tool of its kind. This course builds upon digital manufacturing trends and foundational CAD concepts discussed in Course 1 of this series by introducing Fusion 360 as a problem-solving tool.

Nov 4th 2024
5-12 Weeks
Generative Design for Part Consolidation (Coursera) Coursera
Autodesk

Generative Design for Part Consolidation (Coursera)

Designing a product is only part of the process. Now, can that product be manufactured? In many cases the end product is made up of an assembly of different pieces to simplify manufacturing. With generative design and additive manufacturing, we can now take a different approach to the process of designing and producing complex products by ultimately reducing the number of parts and steps in an assembly while optimizing a design for strength and weight reduction.

Nov 11th 2024
4 Weeks
Intro to Digital Manufacturing with Autodesk Fusion 360 (Coursera) Coursera
Autodesk

Intro to Digital Manufacturing with Autodesk Fusion 360 (Coursera)

The manufacturing industry is making a digital transformation, allowing companies to customize production through advances in machine learning, sustainable design, generative design, and collaboration, with integrated design and manufacturing processes. This course introduces innovations in CAD and digital manufacturing, speaking to the rapid changes taking place that are forever transforming the future of making.

Nov 4th 2024
4 Weeks
Digitalisation in Aeronautics (Coursera) Coursera
Technische Universität München - TUM

Digitalisation in Aeronautics (Coursera)

The instructors of the online course "Digitalisation in Aeronautics" present a spectrum of different aviation research and application areas, exploring the impact of digitalisation in this specific field, including the effects of digitalisation in simulating the interaction of aircraft components, in overall aircraft development and related decision-making and in the communication channels used within aircraft. A broad and varied range of applications and digital solutions are explored in detail in the individual modules of this course.

Jun 15th 2026
4 Weeks
The hidden value - Lean in manufacturing and services (Coursera) Coursera
École des Ponts ParisTech,Boston Consulting Group - BCG

The hidden value - Lean in manufacturing and services (Coursera)

Lean is a powerful methodology that enables managers and employees to shift their mindset and helps companies to keep their business sustainable by creating competitive advantage. Today, in an increasingly complex and dynamic world, where companies struggle to maintain competitive advantage, Lean is more important than ever. This course combines the experience of many senior experts and practitioners from the Boston Consulting Group and École des Ponts, and brings perspectives on Lean in manufacturing and services. It offers strong topic foundation as well as deep practical insights into the art of continuous improvement.

Jun 15th 2026
4 Weeks
Intelligent Machining (Coursera) Coursera
University at Buffalo,The State University of New York

Intelligent Machining (Coursera)

Manufacturers are increasingly utilizing machine tools that are self-aware – they perceive their own states and the state of the surrounding environment – and are able to make decisions related to machine activity processes. This is called intelligent machining, and through this course students will receive a primer on its background, tools and related terminology.

Jun 15th 2026
4 Weeks