The simple answer is “No”. In modern-day product development process, rapid prototyping is commonly used terms like “3D printing” and “additive manufacturing” mainly because 3D printing first came into prominence as a way of making prototypes quickly, But the additive manufacturing technologies have moved along and have made giant strides towards the production of quality parts and might not be the preferred choice for some prototypes due to higher costs. So, what is the difference between rapid prototyping and 3D printing? 3D printing or additive manufacturing is a manufacturing process while prototyping is the end result or the end product. Furthermore, 3D printing on its own or in combination with other processes could be used to create rapid prototyping.