There are many way to make a prototype, such as CNC machining,3D printing,vacuum casitng,vaccum forming,
prototype injection molding and so on.
How to select the prototyping process? This is the problem that customers often ask when they plan or creat a prototype.
In fact, Any of prototyping process has its advantages and disadvantages,
Choose what kind of prototyping process mainly depends on the purpose and use of your prototyping.
Prototyping processes: CNC machining, vacuum casting, SLM, SLA, injection molded prototypes, etc.
1,To choose the prototypes processing method base on the purpose of the prototypes.
- Verify the strength of products
If you want to validate the stability and strength, normally choose CNC machined prototypes or Injection molded prototypes.
As 3D printed prototypes is processed by special materials piled, it is fast but so soft and easy to break.
2. Choose the prototype precessing method base on what accuracy level of the prototype that you are expecting for
There are three option to make multiple quantities: CNC Machining ,Vacuum casting and prototype injection molding.
Prototype CNC machining is a process used in producing one piece or a small batch of a product before its custom production and manufacturing.
The process is ideal for various things. For example, it is suitable for obtaining a sample of the product you want to develop at a lower cost.
When you want more more pieces – maybe 15 or 20. You’ll also want parts that display some of the physical properties of the actual production part.At this stage, your best option is Vacuum Casting.
How about the injection prototype molding process for prototyping ?
Firstly of all ,If the prototype quantity reaches 50PCS, We strongly suggest to make it by prototype injection molding,
As We make the prototype injection mold under totally same condition as regular mold, such as use the same steels and same plastic materials to inject the prototypes, So the accuracy of our molded prototypes is almost same as the regular injected parts.
Meanwhile , The leadtime of the prototype injection molding is almost same with vacuum casting process, and its cost gets much cheaper than vacuum casting when required quantity reach more than 50pcs .
The other advantage of prototype molding is easy adjustable at dimensions and shapes of your prototyping.
When you want to produce more large quantity later after validate multiple quantity prototypes, we can just modify and upgrade the prototype mold, then the life of the improved prototype mold will be reach more than 500000 pieces
3. Choose the prototyping process base on what the materials that you want to use .
SAL is made by special resin can create one prototype very fast, however its raw materials is very weaker than ABS. SAL is not suitable for samples strength test.
For the prototype made by CNC machining, we normally use PP, PC, ABS, and POM, acrylic or aluminum.
Some soft material such as PVC, PU, rubber cannot be used to process by CNC machining . In this case, we suggest to make it by vacuum casting or prototype injection molding.
4. Choose the prototyping process base on the shape of the prototype.
SAL is the most suitable process for smaller size prototypes or those prototypes with complicated shape, as it is more Fast and more cheaper than CNC machining , but when it comes to large size prototypes , 3D pringting will cost more than CNC Machining.
CNC Machining or prototyping molding is no size limited.
5. Choose the process method base on the delivery time
If make only 1 peice of prototype, of course 3D printing or CNC machining is the more faster ,
but if you want to make more quantities of prototypes, obviously the fast way is vacuum casting or prototype injection molding.
Generally speaking, for no more than 10 pieces we select CNC machining, for more than 15pcs we select vacuum casting (silicone mold) ,
and for over 50 pieces we select prototype injection molding .
6. Choose prototype processing method base on the machining accuracy
The precision ranking of the individual prototyping process is as below (Molded prototypes is the most accurate among them):
No.1, Molded prototypes
No.2, SAL/CNC
No.3, Vacuum casting (Silicone mold)
We can get your concept to market fast,
together,We can help your dreams come to life!
Huawei Prototype Injection Mold can save the time and cost of your product development.
Please refer our homepage for details.
Homepage：www.mockupchina.com
Email：marketing@mockupchina.com
Tel：0086-13602559551
Company Name：HDPI (Hua Wei Product Development Industrial Limited)
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