Prototype 3D Printing

16/1/2023

What is prototype 3D printing and how does it work?

3D printing technology has been around for a few years now, but it is only in the past year or so that it has become more widely used. This is due to the decreasing cost of 3D printers and the increasing availability of 3D printing materials.

Prototype 3D PrintingPrototype 3D Printing

3D printing is perfect for rapid prototyping, as it allows you to quickly create quality prototypes that are both accurate and functional. In this blog post, we will discuss how 3D printing can benefit your product development process, and we will give you some tips on how to choose the best material for your project. We hope that this information will help you to create high-quality 3D printing prototypes for a lower cost!

What is 3D Prototyping?

additive manufacturing

With rapid 3D prototyping, fabricators can create three-dimensional objects from digital files by layering material successively. This process involves creating each layer as a thin slice of the final object's cross-section.

3D printing is additive rather than subtractive, meaning that instead of cutting out pieces of the material, it builds up the desired shape layer by layer. This process also uses less material overall. Below are three of the major types of 3D printing, depending on how accurate you need the final product to be:

  • Fused Deposition Modeling, or FDM, is the most popular 3D printing prototyping technique available today. The Thermoplastic Process is easy to use and rapidly growing, extruding filaments layer-by-layer. This process is great for product development.
  • Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is a 3D printing process used for both plastic and metal prototyping. Powder bed 3D printers work by building prototypes layer by layer. A laser is used to heat and sinter the powdered material, which fuses it together into a solid object.
  • Stereolithography (SLA) is a method that creates 3D-printed prototypes using photosensitive liquid resins. The Ultraviolet (UV) light hardens each new layer of the product as it's being built until the model is complete. 3D prototyping at a high resolution is greatly assisted by this method.

3D printer prototyping is key in the making of items such as mechanical printed quality parts, models of buildings, jewellery designs and other products for consumers to place on the market.

3D printed jewellery

3d printed jewellery

Customized jewellery has always been popular in the marketplace. Individuals love having beautiful jewellery which highlights their style and beauty. 3D print Jewellery is a popular gift option. The process of choosing an engagement ring is ten months long. That is because this fashion accessory can be worn for a lifetime as a footprint on a particular day.

Custom jewellery takes longer than usual. A further problem is that not all complicated 3D designs can be produced in a conventional fashion. 3D printing makes it easy. The markets are large. You can exploit this opportunity and provide a competitive advantage to your customers.

3D printed Flip Flops

functional prototypes
image from [https://www.thingiverse.com]

3D printing makes everything possible. There's also one suggestion that's too silly to give serious consideration to. The same applies when you print 3D slippers and flippers. Fortunately, businesses are available to offer customised Flip-Offs. There are many people who have difficulty getting to standard sizes. You will be shocked by those numbers.

Start looking through footwear shops and notice that customers have been unhappy with shoe size. The fact that they have high prices is no problem with them. In that case, you'll be able to enter the markets using 3D printers.

3D printed eyeglass frames

functional prototypes
image from [https://www.thingiverse.com]

The frames are not very expensive and are made by sculptors. These are very costly but not necessarily comfortable. Because they are produced in large volumes, many people are struggling with their frame functionality. Choosing custom-designed sunglasses is expensive. Eyeglasses are a valuable accessory. They have to conform to the shape of our facial appearance.

When eyeglasses are purchased, the eye can appear completely distorted. Consequently, one cannot compromise on the quality and convenience of purchasing a pair of frames. 3D printing helps reduce costs. Because these industries are huge, it's easy to earn money by entertaining fewer than two percentage points.

Advantages of 3D Printing

3d printer

There are many advantages to using 3D printing for prototyping, including the following:

To ensure your product functions properly, use prototypes in tests - With the extensive range of 3D printing materials available now, as well as our online 3D printing service, it's easy to get your hands on advanced materials. Many materials can not only be adapted for production, but they can also benefit your prototyping process. If you need to run tests, these materials will allow you access to the impressive required properties to manufacture advanced functional prototypes.

3D printing is fast

Once you have designed your prototype, it can be printed in a matter of hours. This is much faster than traditional methods of prototyping, such as machining or molding.

3D printing is accurate

3D printers can create prototypes that are very close to the final product in terms of dimensions and appearance

3D printing is flexible

There is a wide range of 3D printing materials available, so you can choose the material that best suits your needs for instant TPU 92A is a thermoplastic polymer, with Shore-A values of 90. It is highly elongated, highly tough, strong durable and strong.

3D printing is cost-effective

3D printing is a relatively inexpensive way to create prototypes, especially when compared to traditional methods such as machining or molding.

Disadvantages of 3D Printing

There are also some disadvantages to using 3D printing for prototyping, including the following:

- 3D printing is slow. 3D printers are not as fast as traditional methods such as machining or molding.

- 3D printing is less accurate. 3D printers can create prototypes that are close to the final product, but they are not always exact replicas the Accuracy is on FDM technology 0.50 mm + 0.5%. For example, a product with dimensions of 50x50x100 mm can be ±0.5% with a lower limit of ±050 mm (±0.020″) bigger or smaller in any direction.

- 3D printing is more expensive. 3D printers are generally not more expensive than traditional methods such as machining or molding.

Choosing the Best 3D Printing Material for Your Project

surface finish

When choosing a 3D printing material for your project, it is important to consider the following factors:

- The type of project you are working on. Different 3D printing materials are better suited for different types of projects. For example, if you are working on a project that requires a high degree of accuracy, you may want to choose a material such as 17 4 PH stainless steel or Flexible resilient thermoplastic TPU92A. If you are working on a project that is more concerned with function than with form, you may want to choose a material such as PLA or ASA.

- The budget you have available. 3D printing materials can vary widely in price, so it is important to choose a material that fits within your budget.

- The timeframe you have available. 3D printers are not as fast as traditional methods such as machining or molding, so it is important to choose a material that you can work with within the timeframe you have available.

- The level of detail you need. 3D printers can create prototypes that are very close to the final product, but they are not always exact replicas. If you need a high level of detail in your prototype, you may want to choose Technology BJT, , MJF, SLS

How to 3D print the prototypes

If you want to use additive manufacturing for your prototypes but don't know where to start, look no further. Utilizing an external 3D printing service is the answer.

If you want to create prototypes without spending a lot of money, it's obvious that buying professional 3D printers is not part of your plan. Also, desktop printers are not good enough in terms of quality. With us service 3D printing on demand, you not only gain access to premium industrial technologies and materials, but also the consultancy of our 3D printing professionals.

We aim to help our customers build better products by streamlining and supporting their manufacturing process through our 3D printing service. We have a wide range of materials that can be used for different projects, from models for architecture to prototypes for mechanical parts, so you're sure to find one that meets your needs."

First, you need to have a 3D model ready. Once you do, upload the file onto our platform in Instant Quote from there, you'll get an instant quote and receive your prototype within a few days! Parts in as fast as 3 business days.

The best materials to 3D print your prototypes

additive manufacturing

What you ultimately decide to 3D print your prototype out of depends on the project itself. Here are some of our most commonly used materials for prototyping! They're an inexpensive solution at this stage in product development; plastics let's see what all you can do with them.

‍HP Multi Jet Fusion [MJF] Nylon 12

print

Our Multi Jet Fusion Nylon 12 is a grey plastic that is perfect for both prototyping and production. The raw version of this material is the most affordable option you will find, allowing you to make as many iterations as necessary without breaking the bank. The objects printed with this material are resistant to scratches and abrasion, making it a great choice for testing. It is also light stabilized, U.V. stabilized and stable to weather, perfect for experiments conducted outdoors.

Prototyping resin

printed parts
image from [www.re-online.com]

Use this resin to create prototypes that are non-functional, but look exactly like the real thing. This material is also perfect if you need to make parts that have a lot of small details. Objects that are manufactured using the Prototyping resin have a smooth surface finish, comparable to those made with plastic injection molding. 3D printing using the Stereolithography (SLA) process is how this type of resin is created.

PLA

print

If you want to develop a prototype quickly, then Fused Deposition Modeling is the way to go. Keep in mind that you won't get the most accurate prototype using this method. For some larger projects, this technique can be useful. Here at we use BigRep 3D printers to print our PLA filament, which allows us to create parts with a maximum size of 300mm x 300mm x 400mm volume. 

TPU

print

If you want a plastic that is both strong and flexible for your 3D printing project, TPU 92A will be the ideal material to use. This rubber-like substance is elastic and durable. This could be the ideal solution for your project if you need something highly adaptable for prototypes that are fully operational. This material is so resistant to stress and fatigue that it can be used for your final products.

Nylon pa12 [SLS]

print

This white plastic material is one of the most affordable materials with a lot of great mechanical properties. It is also easy to work with and has a wide range of applications. Using selective laser sintering technology SLS, this fine polyamide powder material can be used to create prototypes and production parts.

By choosing this material for your prototyping project, you will be able to select from a variety of finishes and options or go with raw parts. A great advantage of using Nylon PA12 (plastic) for prototyping is that it's one of the most affordable materials available. This way, you can make a lot of iterations without having to worry about resistance or geometry issues.

Conclusion

3D printing is a great way to create prototypes that are both accurate and functional. However, there are some disadvantages to using 3D printing, such as the fact that it is a slower ‍process but profitable.

When choosing a 3D printing material for your project, it is important to consider the type of project you are working on, the budget you have available, the timeframe you have available, and the level of detail you need.

Author Natalia Zalikowska

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