Rapid Prototyping, Additive 3-D Printing

Rapid Prototype Printing to validate concept

Rapid Prototyping using Additive 3-D Printing technology provides CED clients with a cost- and time-efficient solution for realizing accurate and working model Prototypes. Available in a variety of materials, these quickly-produced models provide a number of up-front advantages:

• Communication and Collaboration: Physical prototypes serve as tangible representations of a design, facilitating clear communication and collaboration between engineers, designers, and stakeholders.
• Concept Presentation: Printed Prototypes can be used for the presentation, review, and approval process.
• Part Design Validation: Prototypes allow teams to assess the form, fit, and function of a design before committing to expensive tooling and production.
• Manufacturing Feasibility: Creating prototypes helps to identify potential manufacturing issues prior to machining, revealing any design refinements needed to ensure efficient manufacturing.
• Functionality Testing: Prototypes can be used to test the mechanical stability and performance of a part under different conditions.

Rapid Prototype Printing in a wide variety of plastics and metals

Working through select 3-D Printing partners, CED carefully coordinates and manages this technology to deliver on time functional models from your 3-D CAD designs or ours. We offer 3-D printing in a spectrum of materials that include metals, nylons, flexible and rigid plastics and thermoplastics, and other ridged substrates.

3-D Printing designed parts – and the machining elements that make them!

Rapid 3D Printing also offers an extremely accurate and efficient way to create prototypes machining devices for the part to be manufactured. This process provides benefits that include increased production speeds, reduced cost, less waste, and improved final part quality.

3-D Printed machining devices can include:

• Jigs and Fixtures: 3D printed jigs and fixtures can be created quickly and cost-effectively to improve manufacturing efficiency.
• Assembly and Inspection Aids: 3D printing allows for the creation of customized tools that assist in assembly and inspection processes.
• Machining Soft Jaws and Forming Dies: 3D printed components can be used to create soft jaws for work-holding devices and forming dies.

Rapid 3-D Prototyping considerations

While the benefits of Rapid Prototyping using 3-D Printing are many, there are some limitations to consider:

• Limited Material Selection: The available materials for 3D printing may not always meet the required properties for all applications.
• Surface Finish Limits: The surface finish of 3D printed parts may require post-processing to achieve the desired smoothness that actual machining will deliver.
• 100% Part Accuracy: there are “some instances” where part designs pose a precision challenge using 3D printing.

For any of the cases above, our fast Machined Part Prototyping services may provide alternate solutions with desired performance results.

Can Rapid Prototyping with 3-D printing benefit your part program?

Rapid prototyping with 3-D Printing really has revolutionized the machining process by playing a vital role in enabling quick iterations and testing of designs. However, engineering and translating ideas and designs into 3-D printed prototypes — and ensuring they are efficiently machinable — are critical components of this process. They are also services that CED excels in to leveraging the many advantages of 3-D printing for Rapid Prototyping.