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Rapid Prototyping

Reduce design risks and accelerate speed to market.

Our automated design analysis on parts and quick-turn manufacturing processes streamline development by incorporating rapid prototyping throughout the product design, testing, and validation phases.

 

Leveraging Rapid Prototyping

 

The benefits of rapid prototyping services

1. Design Feedback

  • Have physical prototypes in hand within days to quickly modify designs during early product development.
  • Produce multiple prototypes at the same time to compare and iterate designs simultaneously.
  • Reduce overall time to market with an iterative product development cycle.

2. Iterative Development

  • Receive interactive design for manufacturability feedback with every quote to make early adjustments before prototyping begins.
  • Talk with customer service engineers to discuss any design challenges and manufacturing questions that arise.

3. Design Validation

  • Test the form and fit of components with small quantities of accurate 3D-printed and machined parts.
  • Perform functional tests with prototypes manufactured in production-grade materials.

4. Market Testing

  • Produce a pilot run of injection-moulded parts to validate market interest before launch.
  • Reduce financial risk at market launch by implementing affordable aluminium tooling before full-scale production begins.

 


Risk Reduction

Rapid Prototyping Process Matrix

Speed to Market

Rapid Prototyping Timings Charts

Choosing a Prototyping Process

Each rapid manufacturing process comes with its own advantages and disadvantages during prototyping. From 3D printing to CNC machining to injection moulding, our white paper offers a technical analysis of the various manufacturing processes. It lets you weigh the benefits of each, so you can focus on a process best suited for your project.

Rapid Prototyping Processes

Prototyping Award Winning Cutlery

This case study reveals how an award-winning idea to help people with shaky hands eat more easily was developed by Glasgow-based 4C Design and quickly brought into cost-effective production by Protolabs’ rapid moulding service.

READ CASE STUDY