Online rapid prototyping
Rapid prototyping represents that set of additive manufacturing techniques (aka 3D printing), which allow you to make prototype pieces in a short time and at low cost. An online 3D printing service represents a great advantage for anyone who needs to perform tests on a product made using CAD software, before starting a series production. Simply upload online the STL file generated from the 3D model (any CAD design software is able to export the file in STL format), to have in a very short time indications on costs, times and any advice and/or measures to better realize the product in question (any geometries to be modified to have better results in terms of surface and structural quality).
Traditional machining (CNC) can be used to quickly make prototypes to test, but only if geometrically simple (or if 3D printing is inefficient or too expensive). This is also because CNC machines have longer setup and configuration times and a more complex pre-processing phase.
About rapid prototyping
Historically, it has always been difficult to create functional and high-performance prototypes (comparable to the finished product) in a short time and with low costs. Often it was necessary to rely on the same processes through which the finished piece would then be made, often having to use expensive equipment (for example moulds) or very long processes. The alternative was to achieve something very far from the finished product, and thus greatly lower the reliability of the tests performed.
Thanks to the advent of 3D printing, today it is possible to create prototypes in scale or in real size economically and in a short time. These prototypes may in some cases have performance comparable to the finished product (depending on the material and technology used).
In this way you can work by iterations, that is, producing a prototype and verifying its functionality; based on the analysis of the piece made, after making the necessary assessments, changes are made to the 3D model and the printing of a new prototype is launched. The further advantage of this technology lies in the fact of being able to carry out the production "in the shade": during the day we work on the design of the part, while at night we have the machine, which makes the prototype, worked. All this reduces time exponentially, and no additional equipment is needed.
Alternatively, as previously reported, it is possible to use numerical control machines to create geometrically simple parts through traditional mechanical machining, when an actual advantage over additive production is detected.
The process of rapid prototyping through the use of 3D printing can therefore be summarized in 5 steps:
- Creation of the CAD model of the product to be produced
- Exporting the STL (point cloud) model and preparing the file for printing using slicing software
- Sending the file to the printer and starting production of the prototype
- Prototype analysis, necessary tests and measurements
- Iteration of the first four phases, to arrive at the desired solution
Advantages of online rapid prototyping
As seen above, rapid prototyping guarantees the possibility of working with pieces that come very close (and in some cases are exactly comparable) to the finished product.
The advantages of such an online service are different:
- It is not necessary to invest in machinery (3D printer), which depending on the size, processed materials and performance can have very significant costs
- The processing time of the STL file is extremely short, you get information about times and costs immediately
- Given the possibility of inserting the piece together with other details in a single printing session, costs are considerably lower
- Once the necessary tests have been carried out, new prototypes can be made with very short timescales