Rapid prototyping is the process of quickly creating physical parts to use for testing the look, fit, and/or functionality of a design. Traditional manufacturing processes can take weeks or months to set up, not to mention thousands of dollars. That is why rapid prototyping is so important. It not only saves time but money as well, in most cases.

Service Providers

There are many Prototype companies that offer rapid prototyping services, and there are many services offered by them. Some of the popular services are examined below.

Types of Manufacturing

There are two basic types of prototype manufacturing: additive and subtractive. Subtractive processes involve older techniques such as milling. Machines start with an oversized block of material and gradually take away material until the part is finished. Additive processes, such as 3D printing, are relatively newer and they work by creating layer upon layer of material until the part is finished. Both types of manufacturing can take hours or days to complete but each process has unique advantages.

3D Printing

One rapidly-growing process is called 3D printing. It is one of the newest and most affordable processes available. It is an additive process where layers of material, usually plastic or a photopolymer, are built up one at a time over several hours to create parts. Some printers can even use real metal.

There are several ways to create layers. One involves an inkjet-type system, where a liquid photopolymer is sprayed across a table in the shape of the layer and dried by ultraviolet lamps. Another system extrudes very small strips of plastic, much like a tiny hot glue gun, and a mechanical positioning system places the plastic in the right areas to create a layer with the correct outline.

Selective Laser Sintering

Selective Laser Sintering, or SLS, is another popular service offering. It is usually more expensive and parts often have a rougher finish than SLA but there is a wider range of materials available, including metal, plastic, ceramic, and glass.

Stereolithography

Stereolithography, or SLA, is one of the oldest and most popular rapid prototyping techniques out there. It offers a good level of strength, surface detail, and cost. SLA is an additive process that involves a vat of liquid photopolymer. A laser system cures the appropriate sections of each layer.

Conclusion

This article has covered some of the popular services offered, but there are many more that can be researched online, including 3D scanning, metal castings, and rapid injection molding.