What Is Rapid Prototyping?
Rapid prototyping creates physical samples of new product designs before full-scale production. It ensures the final product meets expectations in look, feel, and functionality. Developers use it for functional testing, securing approvals, design iterations, crowdfunding campaigns, trade show models, and transitioning to low-volume manufacturing.
Prototypes often reveal the need for redesigns or improvements that aren’t apparent from digital designs alone. This makes them essential for refining a product before committing to large-scale production. Fixing design flaws early can save significant costs, making prototyping a smart and cost-effective investment.
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What Are the Different Types of Rapid Prototyping?
Any physical model can serve as a prototype, but its value depends on how closely it reflects the final product.
Basic prototypes can be made from simple materials like paper, plastic, clay, Styrofoam, or balsa wood. These low-fidelity models are quick and cost-effective to create, though they may lack functionality or durability. They’re primarily used to visualize designs and assess scale.
In contrast, high-fidelity prototypes are produced using advanced techniques like 3D printing, vacuum casting, rapid tooling, and CNC machining. These methods yield more accurate and functional representations of the final product.
Prototypes often reveal the need for redesigns or improvements that aren’t obvious from digital designs alone. This makes them invaluable for refining a product before committing to large-scale production. Fixing design flaws early can save significant costs, making prototyping a smart and worthwhile investment.
Rapid CNC Prototyping Service
CNC machining, encompassing both CNC milling and CNC turning, is an excellent solution for rapid prototyping when parts need to be evaluated in their final material form. This method creates prototypes from fully dense stock, delivering precise and durable models. At ZhongHui, we specialize in machining a wide variety of metals and plastics, offering unmatched versatility to meet your project needs. Our rapid CNC prototyping services produce high-quality machined prototypes in 7 days. This fast turnaround, combined with competitive pricing, enables engineers to order multiple prototypes simultaneously, streamlining thorough and efficient product evaluations.
By choosing us for your CNC prototyping, you gain access to our expertise and dedication to precision. We offer expedited options to meet tight deadlines, ensuring urgent projects are completed on time. Our market-based pricing ensures affordability without sacrificing quality. Work with ZhongHui, you receive meticulously crafted prototypes that accelerate product development, from initial design concepts to final production readiness.
Maximum Part Size:
Basic Info
Details
CNC Milling
4000×1500×600 mm
CNC Turning
200×500 mm
Standard Lead Time
7 days
Tolerance
0.001 inches
Rapid Prototype Injection Molding Service
Injection molding is an excellent choice for prototyping when you require highly durable and consistent parts for rigorous testing. This method is ideal for high-fidelity product evaluations and for creating temporary bridge tooling during product launches. While rapid injection molding typically takes 2-3 weeks for initial parts, our expedited services can deliver parts in 10 days.
Injection molding is particularly advantageous over 3D printing or CNC machining when your project demands specific material properties or mechanical performance that other methods cannot achieve. We specialize in delivering high repeatability and near-final shapes with every prototype. Our expertise ensures you receive reliable, precise prototypes that support effective product development and testing.
Basic Info
Details
Maximum Part Size
1200×1000×500 mm
Standard Lead Time
4-5 weeks
Mold Cavity Tolerance
± 0.05 mm
Rapid Sheet Metal Prototyping Service
Sheet metal fabrication is a perfect option for quickly producing flat parts that need to be tested in their final metal form. This method allows prototypes to be made in a week or less, providing a fast and efficient solution. It’s also cost-effective, enabling the simultaneous creation of multiple prototype designs. While Aluminum 5052 is a popular choice, we also work with a variety of other alloys, including steel, copper and stainless steel.
By choosing ZhongHui for your sheet metal prototyping, you benefit from our expertise and streamlined processes. We offer a wide selection of materials and deliver high-quality, rapid metal prototyping services tailored to your project needs. With Zhonghui, you can count on reliable, precise, and timely delivery of your sheet metal prototypes, ensuring your design process stays on track and within budget.
Basic Info
Details
Cutting Feature
± 0.00787” (0.2mm)
Bend Angle
± 1.0°
Bend to Edge
± 0.010” (0.254mm)
Bend to Hole
± 0.2 mm
Standard Lead Time
4-7 business days
General Tolerances
Metals: ISO 2768-c
How to Choose the Right Rapid Prototyping?
Rapid CNC Machining
Higher costs and longer lead times compared to some additive manufacturing processes.
Rapid Injection Molding
Higher costs and longer lead times compared to some additive manufacturing processes.