Rapid Prototyping... the basics

​How Rapid Prototyping Works - Should You Consider It?
Rapid prototyping refers to a set of methods that can be used for creating a prototype faster than it would otherwise take. The prototype is made from 3D CAD (computer-aided design) software, a type of software that greatly speeds up the process. With a skilled and experienced manufacturing company, you can have a prototype in your hands from 1 day, to a couple of weeks. Simpler designs can be delivered within days. 

Some companies use temporary molds made of aluminum for creating rubber prototypes. We make all of our molds, even for prototypes, out of steel because it's a higher quality material for this purpose. Steel molds deliver better quality rubber, silicone, and LSR prototypes because you count on the precision tolerances holding up no matter how complex your part and mold design.

Once you're ready to move on to production, we can quickly fulfill your orders because our plant stays in operation 24 x 7 x 365. Keep in mind that not all prototyping companies offer production of rubber, silicone and LSR components, which can make the process of getting your product into the market take longer. 

How Rapid Prototyping Works 

Each company has its own process since rapid prototyping allows for many different ways of tackling it. In general, the geometric model is created in a 3D CAD program like Solidworks (or similar). 

To get an idea of how much faster rapid prototyping is, automakers can build and test an electric car within one year. It could take years without technology like 3D CAD and rapid prototyping services from Rubber Industries, Inc. 

Should You Use Rapid Protoyping? 

Rapid prototyping comes with many benefits, such as: 

• The ability to alter the design to test the fit/form/function, in other words, to enhance multi-function capability, increased functionality, or even detect flaws sooner - During the early development phase, you can detect potential issues in an assembly with the proposed product to save time and money. You wouldn't want to mass produce an item that turns out to not be your optimal solution for cost and functionality. If you notice a potential for improvement or adding more capability in your design to reduce cost in your total assembly and timeline, in your prototype, you can make adjustments until you get it just right.
• Experimenting with product concepts faster - You have more freedom in experimenting with product concepts when you use rapid prototyping because you can get the prototypes fast and it's a cost-effective process.
• Giving your team a better understanding of the product's design and properties - When you and your team have a physical item to hold and examine, made out of the actual material you intend on using in your product, it makes it easier to fully understand its features. Your team may come up with other ideas that they couldn't have from looking at a 2D representation of the product concept on paper or on a computer screen.
• When you use actual materials that you plan on for your parts/assembly, there won't be any guess work or surprises later on because you are actually able to test a real part in our process of making you a real part, not a cheap substitute of temporary material that won't be part of your final product/assembly.
• Having a real part, with real material of all thermoset elastomers (like natural rubber, EPDM, nitrile (NBR), SBR, Viton, etc) allows you to improve your timeline.
• In many instances we are able to mold various materials in the same mold for you to test how the real material options will perform for you.  Often times, these materials will be in spec to print even if the tool was designed for another material.  This is how our expertise of mold building and materials benefit you and streamline your timeline and lower your costs.
• Increasing interest from your product team, corporate decision makers, or investors - because they are more likely to invest in your product concept if you have a physical prototype they can handle. It helps them see that the idea is possible and valid.

Techniques Used in Rapid Prototyping 

Some of the techniques that can be used in rapid prototyping include: 

• Quick-turn tooled injection molding
• 3D printing
• Urethane casting
• Stereolithography (SLA)
• CNC machining
• Selective laser melting

Industries 

Almost any industry can benefit from rapid prototyping, including the medical, industrial, consumer, automotive, and defense contracting industries. Whether you have small or large prototypes to make, we can create rubber models following your design specifications. 

We the fastest complete steel tooling for rubber, synthetic rubber, and silicone prototyping molding services in the industry. Our company has experience in building prototypes for clients from the medical, industrial, consumer, automotive, and defense contracting industries. Rubber type materials and silicone is an excellent material choice for your product because it comes with a wide array of benefits, depending on what type of rubber you use. 

It's a material that can provide flexibility and durability, but it can also be used for harder surfaces as well. Some types of rubber are extremely resistant to low and high temperatures, which is why it's commonly used for automobile parts. Other benefits of elastomers include permeability, resistance to sliding, insulation, resistance to abrasions, and resistance to tearing. Liquid silicone rubber (LSR) is biocompatible, making it useful for medical purposes. 

Rapid prototyping is an essential step in designing a product and bringing it to the market as quickly and efficiently as possible. You can save time and money by using rapid prototyping rather than conventional prototyping. Rubber Industries has the fastest complete rapid prototyping services for rubber and synthetic rubber products (like EPDM, Nitrile/NBR, SBR, Neoprene, Viton, etc). We can finish prototype tooling in 1-15 days, and once you're ready for production, we can deliver your parts in 1-10 days.