Rapid Prototyping in aluminium.

HERE'S A FEW QUESTIONS WE'RE ASKED ABOUT OUR APPROACH TO RAPID PROTOTYPING.

• What is Rapid Prototyping?

  Prototyping is often used to help engineers gain a better understanding of their parts, whether it’s for optimising material or mechanical properties, or for testing production methods for Make Like Production (MLP).

  Rapid prototyping creates a scale model of a physical part using computer aided design (CAD). Different techniques can be used to rapid prototype, including sand casting and 3D printing. Prototyping can be used to meet a variety of pre-production requirements, ranging from proof of concept through to Make Like Production.

• Why is Sand Casting good for Rapid Prototyping?

  Sand casting is a flexible, fast and relatively low cost manufacturing method, making it ideal for rapid prototyping applications. A wide range of alloys can also be used with sand casting, allowing innovative prototyping applications.

• What is "Make Like Production" (MLP)?

  Make Like Production (MLP) is a level of prototyping which mirrors final production properties, creating a prototype which is as close to final production as possible.

  This offers high levels of accuracy, as well as matching final alloys, dimensional specifications and finishing. As a result, Make Like Production (MLP) adds lead time on to the final prototyping.

• What does "fit for purpose" mean?

  Fit for Purpose is a level of prototyping which proves concept or function of a part, but does not meet the accuracy of final production properties as with MLP. As a result, this is often be quicker.

  Different stages of product development will require different prototyping levels.

• What do we mean by a "frozen design"?

  The very nature of rapid prototyping allows for  changes and optimisation in design across the process. This flexibility is important for innovation and collaboration, but does increase lead times accordingly due to changes in specification and design.

  A 'frozen design' is where the customer provides the final design where no changes or modifications will be needed. This will mean that a frozen design prototyping project is likely to have much faster lead times.

• Why is aluminium a good metal for prototyping?

  Aluminium is a flexible material, which can be alloyed with a huge variety of other metals to achieve specific material and mechanical properties for each prototype.

  Heat treatments and other finishing methods can also be utilised with aluminium sand castings to meet prototype specifications.