Rapid Prototyping

What is Rapid Prototyping?

Rapid prototyping is the process of creating an initial cast model of a designed part under the same duress as full production but on a much quicker timescale.

Having the ability to produce prototypes allows our customers to realise significant benefits, non more notable than saving time and money and guaranteeing peace of mind over the design concept.

How does Rapid Prototyping work?

The process is exactly the same as the full scale production process, the point of which is to ensure that your design will perform exactly as it should do. From your CAD design we are able to create the wax mould and manufacture the cast part ensuring the same integrity and finish as your final tooled component.

Rapid prototyping has become a crucial part of the design process for a wide range of industries including medical, aerospace and defence. Financially investing in investment casting is not insignificant, in particular the creation of the mould, and so it is important that it is done correctly so as not to waste time to market, or money in resources.

By partaking in rapid prototyping before committing to the full scale manufacturing process, our customers can make modifications to the design if required which won’t be as costly as they might be further down the line.

So what are the main benefits of Rapid Prototyping?

Speed to market

Rapid Prototyping can enable you to realise your component design quickly and efficiently due to the speed of manufacture. As its name would suggest, rapid prototypes can be produced in as little as a few weeks. It can be an effective solution for small scale product runs if appropriate.

Validate your design

Rapid Prototyping will allow you to foresee any potential problems you may have with your design and also ensure that your component performs as you intended it to. We can also carry out various tests on your prototype so that you can validate its performance.

Saves money on costly rework or tooling modifications

The ability to make modifications is greatly enhanced with rapid prototyping. Finding out problems with a prototype will save costly mistakes and headaches further down the line. The costs of tooling are also less significant with rapid prototyping and so you may also be able to make adaptations to your design that actually improves the final product quality.

Proof of R&D concept

Rapid prototyping allows your research and development team to establish proof of concept with any groundbreaking product designs that they may be working on. If you have a few designs in mind for example, you can use rapid prototyping to make a comparison and choice between designs.

Reduced wastage

Mistakes in investment casting are costly in lots of ways, non less than in excessive waste production. Doing the process twice and the effects that has on the environment both in disposal of waste and use of vital resources is not insignificant over time. It is especially important if your budget won’t allow for you to waste valuable resources.

Deliver the same accuracy

A significant final benefit is that your prototypes are produced by using the same robust and reliable process as you would find in full scale manufacture thereby producing a product that is as true to the final result as you will ever get. It is not compromised on quality or output as you might find with other prototyping methods.

The Rapid Prototyping Process

The rapid prototyping process is the same process that we undertake with full scale investment casting manufacture. We have provided a detailed breakdown of the investment castings process here and you can read more about the rapid prototyping process here.

Header 2

Header 3

Header 4