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Time compression technologies such as rapid prototyping and manufacturing offer enormous potential benefits. Dramatic savings can be made when lead times to development of new or modified products are reduced. Swifter development also lends a competitive edge to companies using these techniques. Ensuring that the most appropriate rapid prototyping and manufacturing technology is applied to a project is vital to the success of a project.
The starting point is usually the generation of a Computer Aided Design (CAD) using software to produce 3D drawings of components. Prototype parts (solid models) can then be produced for the client to inspect, modify surface finish, render, shape and form.
The following are some of the methods used to produce prototype parts:
- Conventional CNC machining in easy cut materials.
- Stereo Lithograph (SLA) produced directly from the 3D CAD data; these parts can be finished to customer requirements, or used as master patterns in Metal Investment Castings.
- RTV Silicone Rubber tooling cast around the SLA master pattern enabling the production of multiple parts in resins that have similar properties to the plastic material that may be used in the end product.
- Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) which allows parts to be produced direct from the 3D CAD in Engineering plastics as well as steel, either as single or multiple units without any tooling.
- Inserts to fit in to moulding tools for limited production runs in conventional machinery.
- Keltool - Using the SLA as the master pattern a steel insert can be produced that can handle production quantities during moulding.
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