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ON Demand Prototyping
Before a particular product is put into the mass manufacturing process, the designers would like to test the product into a physical form which is a prototype of the actual product to ensure that various components fit well with each other, defects are detected in the design phase, and the product will aesthetically appeal to the customers. Products may have to go back and forth from design to prototypes before it is refined and ready for mass manufacturing.
3D manufacturing techniques have shortened the prototyping cycle, have reduced the cost and have opened the possibilities of making functional prototypes rapidly and within a low budget.
We supply 3 D printed components in PLA, PETG, Nylon and Carbon fiber reinforced plastics. Also, we can supply wax patterns for investment casting to manufacture components in steel and other metals.
Please upload your files in STL and we shall submit the quotation.”
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) Prototyping
Another form of powder bed fusion, SLM is an industrial process that requires carefully controlled conditions. This approach utilizes a high-power laser to melt and fuse metallic powders. Common metal powders may include titanium, stainless steel, maraging steel and cobalt chrome.
SLM is the preferred technique for making sophisticated parts of the highest strength, durability and complexity. With the ability to realize complex shapes and produce multiple parts at the same time, SLM is what we use at Star Rapid® for our DMLM service.
It’s important to note that the process can be expensive and, therefore, should be controlled by a skilled engineer. But, the results are ideal for the most demanding applications in aerospace, automotive, defense and medical parts.
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
Developed by Scott Crump, co-founder and chairman of leading 3D printing manufacturer, Stratasys Ltd., FDM is popular in industries ranging from automotive to consumer goods manufacturing. Put simply, FDM printers use a thermoplastic filament to create 3D objects. The filament is then melted inside the barrel of a printing nozzle. Once it becomes hot liquid resin, it is laid down layer-by-layer. Before an object can be printed, it has to be converted into a format the 3D printer can comprehend, which is typically an .STL format.
FDM printing is clean, inexpensive, easy-to-use and can accommodate different types and colors of plastic combined in a single build. It’s also safe enough that even children can use it in a classroom. However, FDM printed parts have poor resolution and finish quality, and the parts are not very strong compared to other 3D rapid prototyping techniques. On the plus side, one of the biggest advantages of FDM is its scalability, making it ideal for creating prototypes and models during the development stage.