2. Why Choose CNC Rapid Prototyping?
Let’s jump right into the reasons to apply techniques of CNC rapid prototyping.
1. Cost saving
Look at it this way. Besides all technical reasons detailed further, rapid prototyping is some form of fail-safe to prevent you from financial losses. Frequently, an intricate design of a part does not succeed on the first attempt.
It is much better to lose some materials and time instead of fully loading a manufacturer’s powers to produce sub-quality products. Instead, rapid prototyping enables testing a new design before custom machining.
Moreover, you most want parts produced to be tested for their mechanical properties before managing large-scale orders. Those properties may include harness, fatigue limit, elasticity, rigidify of the product, actual weight, etc.
It is also possible that some complicated designs prove themselves to not be viable for the purpose they had been intended to. Launching a small batch of newly designed parts by means of rapid prototyping is a cost-effective intervention.
2. Precise tolerances
It may seem like any machining process is precise to a certain degree. The true value deviation offered by particularly prototype machining is extremely small. It is correct for comparison to other means of prototyping and larger versions of CNC machines used for large-scale orders.
With rapid prototyping, the desired outcomes can be obtained with high precision. It creates solid ground for further manufacture of components.
3. Perfect mimic of a finished product’s design
I do not get tired of repeating the crucial point. It is vital to have a small batch of prototypes to launch manufacturing of a component with a new design.
From the quality assurance perspective, a batch of parts produced through rapid prototyping may serve as an object for further validation. It implies that testing of such prototypes can serve as documented evidence.
It is proof that further manufactured parts have the same properties and are of the same quality as their samples tested.
So, what does all this mean? Rapid prototyping may help in obtaining quality certificates required to sell products in some countries. Overwise, samples made via prototype machining can be presented to customers or potential buyers. This way, prototypes also serve the proof of claimed features of a finished product.
4. Versatility
And the best part? You don’t need to choose from a range of options while deciding what prototyping suits your intended design better. CNC rapid prototyping is a highly versatile process, enabling the production of samples of desired complexity for further testing.
Software-controlled manufacturing incorporates multiple machining operations. Rapid prototyping works similarly. As a result, you may receive any design you need. Most advanced equipment units for rapid prototyping are all-in-one solutions for your manufacture.
5. Wide range of applicable materials
The choice of a material depends on a part’s operating temperatures, properties requirements, and other factors. Therefore, you should be sure that rapid prototyping responds to your needs for a particular material.
As well as traditional machines, software-based centers for prototypes incorporate a wide range of materials. It includes metals, woods, plastics, and even foams.
6. Fast turnaround
Rapid prototyping is not called “rapid” for nothing. Batches of custom samples are fairly small, and the process is focused on fast results delivery. As a result, it will not take long from setting an order to testing prototypes.
7. Short run
Rapid prototyping is also called “short-run production.” Allow us to explain. Short-run refers to a production cycle with at least one factor fixed. These input factors can be labor, capital, real property, equipment, materials, etc.
While in long-run production, nearly all those variables can fluctuate, affecting the final cost of production, short-run manufacturing is less vulnerable to changes.
Let us give you some examples. A company produced a batch of components within half of a year. It is unlikely that something will change within this period. A supplier would not increase prices for materials, and the equipment involved would not require repair. However, further batches may have another net price per production unit.
Ordering prototypes from a third-party service provider is also short-run production, executed in a period of six months or less. It is a predictable process, and the fixed terms of a contract give you confidence.
But how do you know when it is better to apply for short-run production and when for traditional large-scale CNC machining? As a rule of thumb, rapid prototyping is the most cost-effective alternative for producing fewer than 10,000 parts or near that. For more exact calculations, you may use calculations for estimated net price per production unit, i.e., production cost formulas.
8. Wide range of finishing options
It is easy to forget about a component’s finishing while paying close attention to its fundamental design. Luckily, CNC rapid prototyping is known for incorporating a range of options to perfect an innovative sample.
The most obvious type of finishing is adding some surface texture and smoothness. Additionally, it may include removal of supports, sanding, or blasting. Then, you may be offered color matching, such as splay or hand painting.
The other option available is coating. It may include plating, shielding, or durability coating. You can take it as an extra layer of protection. And the icing on the cake is the addition of inserts or functional assemblies. These make good designs even better.
Let me add another important piece of information, so you would not be confused if you were asked about whether basic, normal, or detailed finishing you need. The three types of finishing typically available offer the following. Basic – support removal only.
In other words, it is simple surface finishing. Normal – removal of build lines and light bead blast (SLA only). Detailed – customized finishing in accordance with the specification, including painting, graphics, assemblies, etc.
9. No fixed tooling
It is a frequent difficulty of manufacturers of any size that their options for innovative solutions are limited. Indeed, having strictly defined sets of cutting tools for own production makes it difficult to eliminate errors that may arise during rapid prototyping. Thus, you may not be able to choose more appropriate tooling, as their range is limited.
As a bonus of prototype machining, there is no fixed tooling by definition. It is highly appreciated if a company or a third-party provider is partnering with cutting tools suppliers. It enables us to involve any equipment needed fast. What is the purpose? To make absolutely any viable design possible to machine further.
