ZoeRapid prototyping has seen immense growth in technology and material advancement over the last decade. The recent technological advancement has led to the growth of its popularity. Previously, rapid prototyping was only used for the verification of the aesthetic design. But now, Rapid Prototyping Companies are using it for development procedures and complex product design. Furthermore, many industries and companies in the last decade have adopted rapid prototyping for prototype development. Thus, this post aims to act as an expert guide to companies that use rapid prototyping.
The expert guide to companies that use rapid prototyping
1. Companies in the automotive industry
One of the best merits of rapid prototyping in the automotive industry is that it reduces the lead time, allowing companies to save millions annually. Rapid prototyping allows for prototypes to resemble the specifications of the final design in terms of material properties and geometry. Furthermore, companies in the automotive industry require evaluating and testing the development of their parts to be done rigorously. The rigorous evaluation and testing are done to determine whether the products developed are sufficient for the market. Additionally, prototyping allows for design validation.
2. Companies in the aviation industry
The companies in the aviation industry depend on rapid prototyping to develop both complex and simple parts. Furthermore, most parts of the aerospace industry are unique in terms of material and geometrics, making their products in the traditional means difficult. Thus, rapid prototyping is crucial in the aviation industry.
3. Companies in the medical industry
Companies in the medical industry require medical prototypes for various reasons, such as; marketing tools and design validation. Rapid prototyping can develop many medical prototypes, including rubber components, hand-held appliances, and surgical instruments. Furthermore, it allows for prototype testing and concept models. The critical point to note in developing medical prototypes is that quality is crucial.
Therefore, the materials need to be USP Grade VI, and ISO approved for medical testing. Additionally, rapid prototyping allows for cost-effective and quick manufacturing for clinical device ergonomic testing.
4. Companies that manufacture consumer goods
Consumer goods can be mobile phones, household appliances, such as kettles, and fire alarms. The development of consumer prototypes through rapid prototyping is a quick and cost-effective method. Furthermore, consumer prototypes can be for; customer evaluation, photography models, engineering process, and testing prototype functionality. Additionally, companies that require funds for product production can use the prototypes to create their pitch.
5. Industrial equipment development companies
The companies that develop industrial equipment benefit from combining MRO strategy and CNC prototype machining. The benefit acquired is that industrial equipment such as those in field service and plant service is needed to work for an extended period, thus helping in avoiding equipment breakdown. The industrial system often requires custom-made parts that usually need spare parts. Therefore, rapid prototyping is crucial for them. Furthermore, it helps to design and develop prototypes digitally, thus eliminating the traditional issue of archiving tools that were physically developed.
Conclusion
Rapid prototyping is crucial for most companies. The move from the traditional production of parts to rapid prototyping has encouraged so many industries’ growth. Furthermore, it has less lead time that ensures prototype development is cost-effective.