Great ideas always need a trial run. Whether it is with first drafts, prototypes, or initial experiments, a great idea must be tested before it enters the world in its final version. Today, 3D printing has made it possible for manufacturers and innovators to print prototypes of their ideas before they invest more money in production. This process is known as the “bridge-to-production.”
So, how does 3D plastic prototyping improve your production and chances for success? Read and learn about this amazing technology and process below.
If you are ready to try out a prototype for your new product, give Cesar-Scott a call at (915) 543-3212 for accessible plastic prototyping services.
What is 3D Printing?
By this point, most people have some concept of the technology of 3D printing, so let’s look a little closer at this increasingly innovative process. The 3D printing process refers to the production of a three-dimensional solid object from a digital file.
The process of printing begins with the right software. Today, there are highly sophisticated software tools as well as open-source options. Once you have the software and computing capabilities, you begin the slicing process. The process involved chopping the image into hundreds of thousands of layers. Once the file is sliced with the software, it’s ready for the printer.
The 3D printer is similar in concept to an inkjet printer, except that it can build a 3D model by separating digital files into layers. It repeatedly prints over the same area in a method called fused depositional modeling. So, over a period of hours, the printer builds a model from a CAD drawing into many layers. Instead of printing in ink, of course, the printer uses layers of molten plastic or powder and fuses them together.
The Revolutionary Change in Prototyping
Traditional ways of prototyping products could be long, arduous, and expensive. The cost would extend the production process because manufacturers would delay the prototype as much as possible, lest they lose money on a not-yet-developed idea.
Traditional prototyping techniques such as injection molding take months to manufacture each version. So not only is it costly, but it also requires months simply to get a prototype back and continue the development process.
Using 3D printing is also called rapid prototyping because it allows a great deal of flexibility and affordability.
Benefits of 3D Prototyping
So what are the revolutionary benefits of 3D printed prototypes? This technology is changing the way that innovation and production happen. The general benefits of 3D printing include:
- Easy process: As explained above, 3D printing is relatively straightforward. The most important part is having access to a quality printer, good software, and a technician that understands how to handle both. This is one of the benefits of plastic prototyping, the designs are created using CAD files and can be easily uploaded.
- Cost-efficient: When working on a new product, prototypes can be the next milestone for continued development or selling the idea to investors. With the cost-efficiency of the process, manufacturers can improve the process.
- Various filament options: 3D printing can print using different filaments. The filaments used in the 3D printing process can be made from plastic, resin, wood, metal, and more. So, depending on the project, you can choose different filaments that will affect your prototype and get it closer to the final product.
- Easy editing: One of the main advantages of 3D prototyping is how easy it is to edit the design without the hassle. With the traditional method of prototyping, changing the design involved a lengthy process and caused producers a lot of hassle and lack of flexibility.
- Less wasted material: A 3D printer is also advantageous because it produces less waste in the process. The technology reduces waste because it is only printing the necessary material exactly as specified in the CAD file. Any remaining filament can be reused as well.
When you print a 3D model created to your design specifications, you have the opportunity to fully analyze and assess the product to enhance the production process and continue design changes.
Different 3D Printing Processes
There are different types of 3D printing processes as well. What process works best might depend on how much accuracy is needed for the prototype. The three types are:
- Fused deposition modeling
- Stereolithography
- Selective laser sintering
Rapid Prototyping with Reliable 3D Printers in El Paso
Here, at Cesar-Scott, we offer prototyping capabilities for different sizes. Our ability ranges from 8.5” x 7.5” X 5” in size and is made of ABS or PLA extruded plastic. Our prototypes achieve a high resolution of .2 mm in thickness. We work with manufacturers and producers by providing custom wire harnesses, cable assemblies, and other cable management products.
Want to learn more about our 3D printing abilities? If you need to speed up your production process and do so reliably and effectively, call Cesar-Scott today. We will guide you through the process!