What Is Rapid Prototyping & Why You Need It For Your Business

11/9/2020 What is Rapid Prototyping & Why You Need it For Your Business?
CONTACT US
Contact us
Home  Blog  Prototyping  What is Rapid Prototyping and Why You Need It For Your Business?
Blog
What is Rapid Prototyping and Why You

Need It For Your Business?
August 06, 2019 / Prototyping

If you belong to the product manufacturing industry, then chances are you’ve already heard about the
concept called rapid prototyping. It is one of the biggest trends in the manufacturing and prototyping
https://www.imaginationeering.com/what-is-rapid-prototyping/ 1/14
industry today.
CONTACT US
Contact us
Rapid prototyping allows you to create multiple scale models of your product idea to further simplify
the manufacturing process. Also, rapid prototypes can serve as dummy models to help represent your
idea in front of your stakeholders.
But the thing is…
What’s the exact process that goes behind rapid prototyping? And how can you make the most out of
rapid prototyping for your business?
If you are curious to nd out then we’ve curated all the necessary information for you.
In this blog, you will nd out what rapid prototyping is, its bene ts, and how can you use it in your
business to streamline your product designing process.
Read along.
What is Rapid Prototyping?

Simply put, rapid prototyping is a set of methods you can use to quickly and continuously create a scale
model of your product assembly using computer-aided technology (CAD) data. Nowadays, the term
rapid prototyping and 3D printing are used interchangeably as 3D printing is the most important
aspect of rapid prototyping.
Rapid prototyping uses an additive manufacturing approach as it is the fastest way to create a near-
perfect visual replica multiple times. Subtractive manufacturing, on the other hand, requires frequent
rework to remove unnecessary parts which defeat the purpose of rapid prototyping.
3D printing machines follow 3-dimensional design commands from CAD systems and create a product
replica by adding layers of liquid plastic, rubber or other synthetic materials. Some 3D printing
technologies can also create intricate inner mechanical parts for products with great attention to
detail.
Bene ts of Rapid Prototyping

CONTACT US
Contact us

Rapid prototyping comes with numerous bene ts. Here are some of the most important ones for your
business:

1: Thorough testing before production
The most important bene t of rapid prototyping is it allows you to thoroughly test your product early
on. You can create multiple prototypes in one go, detect some design aws in your designs, and create
more re ned ones in a short amount of time.
Detecting functional and design aws early in your product can prevent huge costs later on if aws are
identi ed during nal production. Nowadays with 3D printing, you can also replicate inner mechanical
parts of your product with ner details. This helps you to work on both your product’s aesthetics and
functionality.

2: Cheaper and easy to operate
3D printing has been there since the 1980s. However, due to its huge cost and heavy machinery, it was
only affordable for big companies back then.
But that’s not the case today. Due to the rapid advancement in technology, 3D printers have become
much affordable and sport a compact design. Buying a 3D printer has become so convenient that many
tech enthusiasts own one in their home.

CONTACT US
Contact us
For a business, 3D printers come with a variety of functions to suit different requirements of products
such as aesthetics, complexity, and mechanics. You can select the 3D printer most suitable for your
business and get started with rapid prototyping straight away.
Also, unlike CNC machines which require special expertise to operate it, 3D printing can be done by
following simple instructions. If you have a decent knowledge of CAD and product designing, operating
3D printers is quite easy.
3: Faster realization of your product concept

Rapid prototyping tools simplify the process of generating new product ideas by allowing frequent
creation of visual replicas. Having a solid 3-dimensional replica in front of you helps you explore new
ideas and rework on them with ease.
You can work on your product step-by-step by creating the initial prototype and add the changes until
you are satis ed with the end results.
You can also share the progression of your product design with your colleagues, project partners, and
potential investors which is much better than sharing an imaginative concept. Rapid prototyping lets
you explore new possibilities to improve your product before transferring it into the production line.

4: Speeds up the Manufacturing Process
Although prototyping is an important process in product design, it is considered as a bottleneck. It

takes a lot of time and effort to come up with a brand new product idea and turn it into reality. The
most tedious part of product designing is working on the visuals and intricate details of your product.
This is where rapid prototyping shines. It signi cantly reduces the time taken during prototyping and
redesigning phase of product design. Also, tweaking your product to perfection early on speed up the
nal manufacturing process.
How to make the most of Rapid Prototyping?

CONTACT US
Contact us
By now, you must’ve understood the importance of rapid prototyping for your business. But if you
follow these 3 golden rules, you will get the maximum bene t from it.
Interested? Let’s start with the rst one:
1: Understand your product needs
First of all, it is important to understand your prototyping needs before selecting the right rapid
prototyping approach.
You can select your rapid prototyping tools according to the following factors.
Product shape and dimension
Attention to detail
Surface nish
Rework time required for the prototype
Production approach

2: Choose the Right 3D Printer

CONTACT US
Contact us
As I’ve mentioned before, 3D printers come in all shapes, sizes, and functionality. There are 3 major 3D
printing machines that are used commonly today. Let’s have look at them:
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM): FDM creates 3D models by melting and extruding thermoplastic lament. The
quality of the nal product is very basic with a poor surface nish. It is ideal for hobbyists with basic prototyping needs.
Stereolithography (SLA): SLA is the rst-ever 3D printing machine that was introduced way back in 1980. It uses a laser
to cure liquid raisins into hardened plastic. SLA provides numerous material choices in 3D printing, making it the most
popular 3D printing machine for industries worldwide. Prototypes from SLA have a ne attention to detail and a cleaner
surface nish.
Selective Laser Slinting (SLS): Best for additive manufacturing, SLS 3D printers use a high-powered laser to fuse small
particles of polymer powder. SLS outputs prototypes with extreme attention to detail and moving mechanical parts. The
most common material used in SLS is Nylon.
According to your product needs, you can select the most suitable rapid prototyping machines for your
business.

3: Have a dedicated prototyping staff
Most importantly, prototyping should be done by an experienced and creative staff that know their
way around. After all, product designing itself is a creative process and needs a creative mindset for
successful results.
Also, having a dedicated prototyping team streamlines the production process by conducting all the
prototyping activity ef ciently and reducing the turn-around time.
To go a step further, if your budget allows it, we would highly recommend outsourcing the rapid
prototyping services to a competent product design company in your local area. Not only they provide
valuable expertise in prototyping but they also help you focus on other important business activities.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, rapid prototyping has changed the product design industry forever. Using the latest
technology and expertise, you can create multiple replicas of new product design to get the perfect
nal product and streamline your product designing process.
All the factors mentioned above will help you make an educated decision for selecting the perfect rapid
prototyping strategy for your business.
Speaking of which, if your business is in Houston, Texas and looking for rapid prototyping, Industrial
design, and custom design solution services in your area, we will be more than happy to help you.
Just take a look at our comprehensive portfolio of 3D printing services. If your products need the same
treatment, send us your queries and we’ll do our best to help you out.
CONTACT US
Contact us
CATEGORIES
3D Printing 2
Computational Fluid Dynamics 3
Finite Element Analysis 5
Imaginationeering | News 16
Invention Help 2
Medical Device 3
Product Design 3
Product development 3
Prototyping 8
CONTACT US
Contact us
CONTACT US
Contact us
CONTACT US
Contact us
CONTACT US
Contact us
CONTACT US
Contact us
CONTACT US
Contact us
 ADDRESS
2909 Paul Quinn St
Houston, TX 77091
 PHONE
1.346.205.3691
CONTACT US
Contact us
 FOLLOW US
  
CONTACT US
© 2020 Imaginationeering, LLC. All right reserved. | All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
About Us | The Imaginationeering Team | Industries | Services | Blog | News | Sitemap | Disclaimer
| Privacy Policy

What Is Rapid Prototyping & Why You Need It For Your Business

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

What Is Rapid Prototyping & Why You Need It For Your Business

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

11/9/2020 What is Rapid Prototyping & Why You Need it For Your Business?

What is Rapid Prototyping and Why You

What is Rapid Prototyping?

Bene ts of Rapid Prototyping

2: Cheaper and easy to operate

tech enthusiasts own one in their home.

3: Faster realization of your product concept

4: Speeds up the Manufacturing Process

Although prototyping is an important process in product design, it is considered as a bottleneck. It

How to make the most of Rapid Prototyping?

Interested? Let’s start with the rst one:

1: Understand your product needs

Product shape and dimension

Rework time required for the prototype

2: Choose the Right 3D Printer

3: Have a dedicated prototyping staff

Computational Fluid Dynamics 3

Finite Element Analysis 5

You might also like