Producing any product can be a long, complex and expensive process that involves a lot of trial and error. The process includes designing, drawing, testing, changing, correcting, redesigning, etc. A lot of work goes into perfecting any part before it is mass-produced. This is where prototyping can go a long way. When manufacturing, machining, or prototyping, a preliminary model can be created, tested and evaluated, and any necessary changes and modifications made, all before production begins. Prototyping is essential for product design verification and assembly.
The prototyping process allows bugs to be discovered early so that redesign can be done to refine the product. It brings efficiency to the process and saves companies a great deal of time and budget, especially in cases where a rigid schedule or limited budget is involved.
Nowadays, many companies turn to 3D printing, which is an excellent solution to produce the prototype, especially in cases where the prototyping model needs to be highly accurate or customized with precise details. 3D printing technology, also known as additive manufacturing, has become increasingly popular in recent years. Parts built on the 3D printer are created directly from the design file. This means you can avoid the time and cost of tooling, and you can also digitally change designs and create up-to-date prototypes in less time, helping you move to production and manufacturing faster. Also, the 3D printer can use multiple materials at the same time to produce the prototype.
When creating the part with the 3D printer, you can see the model or prototype, touch it and inspect it. What you have in your hands is a physical sample of your final product. You can create it from the same or similar materials as the finished product. Then you also have the ability to test your product under demanding requirements and conditions, such as wind, heat, water, coatings, paints, etc. The testing phase is crucial, so that you can make any necessary adjustments and enhancements to the product as needed, ensuring that what you have is a quality product. You can’t do that if all you have is a CAD design on your computer, and it’s hard to visualize even if you’re using 3D files.
In recent years, 3D printers have become faster, easier to use, and handle multiple materials at the same time, making them more popular. They can be used for prototyping in countless types of industries, including industrial manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, defense, pharmaceutical, medical, dental and health, sports, art, architecture, hobby models, consumer goods and electronics, and many more. 3D printing is not only beneficial financially and in terms of time, but its production process presents a more ecological way of creating the product: it is not a lot of waste material that needs to be recycled. In fact, the future of product development and manufacturing now rests in the hands of revolutionized high-tech printers.