Prototyping

There are many different ways of manufacturing prototypes. 3D printing, CNC machining, vacuum casting, hand carving to name but a few.
3D printing has become a very popular choice, and it is a favourite for us here at Alphatech.

3D printing is a term that is widely used to cover a range of rapid prototyping technologies. It is important to recognise that there is no one technology that is suitable for all prototypes. Choosing the correct method of manufacture for a particular prototype is very important to obtain the desired result.

We have a huge amount of experience with the different type of 3D printing, and can select or advise on the best method for your requirements.

The multitude of 3D printing technologies differ in cost, strength, accuracy, finish and lead time. This can make the right choice difficult for the non-experienced buyer.

Functional Prototypes

Here we have chosen to make the prototypes from sintered nylon using the SLS 3D printing technology. This has enabled us to build a prototype that will be very similar to the strength of the final injection moulded plastic product.

The sintered nylon parts can machined, sanded or tapped, as here, which enabled us to fit the clamp screws.

Our customer could then test the product to ensure that they were confident that the product would function as desired before committing the injection moulding tooling.

Fully Finished Prototypes

Here we have produced a fully finished prototype. This was used to assess the styling of the product. The various parts were made using the SLA technology. This gave us parts that were dimensionally accurate, had a smooth surface which could be prepared for the gloss read paint finish. Logos were then applied using the ‘rub down’ technique. Strength was not a big concern as the prototypes would be handled with care. Several other colours of the sunglasses were produced for marketing and photo-shoots.

Transparent and clear prototypes

3D printed parts do not need to be opaque. Clear materials are available with certain 3D printing technologies. Crystal clear parts or coloured glass type effects are possible. To achieve a totally clear parts, the printed parts need to be sanded smooth before being sprayed with a clear lacquer.

Clear parts can also be produced by machining parts from solid materials such as polycarbonate. These would then be polished to a high gloss finish.

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Concept

You may or may not have a clear idea of what your how your product will look or function. We can develop a concept as a starting point for product development.

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Prototype

It is usually essential to design and build a prototype of your product to test fuctionality, aesthetics and usability. We can provide all you need.

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Development

You may already have a prototype but need help in turning the this into a production ready design. Or maybe you need to update and modernise an existing product.

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Production

To develop a production ready design that is feasible and cost effective, you need in-depth knowledge of manufacturing methods. We have the experience to get you the results you need.

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