WHAT WE MEAN BY QUICK PROTOTYPING
“Quick prototyping” regroups a set of solutions that enable to manufacture a prototype in an accelerated manner subsequently to CAD of 3D objects.
Example of a prototype manufactured at Heratec
“Prototype” means it is the first product (or one of the first) in an industrial production chain.
Prototyping enables to move on from the invention stage to mass production.
Thanks to additive manufacturing, making prototypes is becoming easier and faster and projects which some time ago could not have seen the light of day using traditional techniques are now possible.
WHAT ARE THE APPLICATIONS OF RAPID PROTOTYPING?
- Rapid prototyping enables to give your concepts a physical shape to better communicate your ideas with your colleagues or customers. Physical models are far more efficient than a 3D file and thus enable clear and concrete evaluation of the design.
- Design improvement: thanks to 3D printing, quick prototyping means flexibility to produce realistic prototypes faster and to implement changes if needed prior to launching the final production run. It enables to test viability of the prototype.
- High-precision prototype: it enables to create high-precision prototypes that resemble the final product.
MAKING A PROTOTYPE: AN ASSET FOR YOUR PROJECT!
Access to a mock-up comes with numerous advantages:
- Creation of complex designs: you have almost complete freedom when it comes to shape as 3D printing is suited to highly complex shapes.
- Mass production: several parts can be produced at the same time.
- Financial advantage and production deadlines: with 3D printing, there is no longer any need for expensive tools or infrastructure to produce various geometric shapes
- Manufacturing process: one of the processes used for prototyping at Heratec is FDM. Having first used CAD, instructions are sent to the printer that will reproduce the object layer by layer.
3D printing – CAD
FDM: the quickest way of printing a prototype. Here we use thermoplastics. A plastic filament is heated in the extrusion nozzle of the machine and then melted. Once it has been deposited, it solidifies as it cools and sticks to the previous layer.
With our Stratasys Fortus 900MC printer, at Heratec we carry out FDM printing using thermoplastics.
We design tooling for our customers in various sectors (aviation, automotive and medical).
3D Stratasys Fortus 900MC printer
For the aviation industry we printed “FOD” (Foreign Object Damage) caps made out of memory foam covered in silicone. These caps prevent foreign bodies from entering aviation assembly chains.
FOD caps
It is now your turn to place your trust in our experts so they can bring your projects to life. Our team is there for you. Contact us!
