RAPID PROTOTYPING

Realistic Prototypes

Rutland Plastics has the capability to produce rapid plastic prototypes in-house for you to test your products prior to committing to the investment in a mould tool.  The plastic prototypes will be as close as you can get to final manufactured parts using rapid prototyping.

We use an Objet Connex 350 – one of a range of the world’s only 3D printers capable of printing using multiple materials.  You have the option of choosing from more than 50 materials with varying mechanical properties, textures and shade simulating anything from rigid engineering plastics to transparent materials and 11 different variations on the rubber shore scale.

You are able to get high resolution prototypes with smooth surfaces and fine details.  Wall sections from a minimum of 0.6mm are possible with accuracy of parts of 0.1mm-0.3mm.  The maximum build size of any part is 342mm x 342mm x 200mm although larger prototypes are possible by joining two or more smaller prototypes.

Material Possibilities

Sometimes it is necessary for product assemblies to be manufactured from a combination of materials.  Traditional prototyping can be expensive in these instances.  We are able to manufacture parts and assemblies made from multiple materials, with different mechanical properties, all in a single build.

The ability to combine two different prototyping materials in differing proportions means that a wide variety of different grades of polymer can be simulated.  Combinations can be made up of 2 rigid materials, 2 flexible materials, 1 of each type, and any combination with transparent material.  It is also possible to produce prototypes using a combination of black and white materials to create a range of grey scales.

The resulting composite material will have specific values for tensile strength, elongation to break, heat deflection temperature (HDT) and even Shore A values, so simulating polypropylene, ABS, transparent (similar to acrylic), high temperature (thermal resistance up to 90C with high impact), and a wide range of rubber-like materials from shore 40A to 95A.

Rapid Prototypes You Can Use

Finished prototype parts can be painted, machined, drilled or chrome plated.  All materials are REACH compliant.  Rapid prototypes produced using this method are as life-like as the final manufactured items so form, fit and function can be accurately tested.

Anything from one-off prototypes to a quantity of 10 to 20 parts can be economically manufactured.  The most cost effective quantity will depend on the part size and number of different individual parts required.

Contact us today for a no obligation quote.

Different types of prototype explained