3D Printed Prototypes
3 materials, 2 Methods
3D printing is great for making your first prototype and testing your design. We offer a choice of materials from white PLA, ABS and Resin, and using these materials can print virtually anything. Our printers have a maximum size of 300 x 300 x 400mm, giving us a significant amount of room to print within. We specialize in FDM printing technology and SLA to ensure the highest possible standard of finished product. The investment we’ve made in our equipment means that you get high quality, accurate, and strong prototypes. With seven years of experience behind us and having printed over 10,000 models, you are guaranteed a fantastic service.
What Program Should I Build My 3D Printed Prototype In?
We recommend SketchUp Free, a (free) 3D modeling program. It has a large library of 3D models as well, so if you ever need inspiration or just like one of the models, you’re more than welcome to submit it to our 3D printing team. When designing your prototype, please keep in mind how thin each element is. FDM printers are more affordable in comparison to SLA printers, but can only print objects that are over 100 microns thin. Additionally, FDM printers aren’t capable of moving objects, so if you need an object that rotates or moves (i.e. gears, hinges, etc), you’ll need to use an SLA printer. Our in-house SLA printers can print an element at a minimum of 25 microns, though because of the amount of liquid resin that needs to be utilized in the process, will likely cost more than printing with an FDM printer. If you’re in an architectural design field, we generally recommend an FDM printer for your designs, as not only will it save you time and money compared to an SLA printer, the printers we have installed in our Dublin office are capable of very precise and high-quality work. Please contact us for a free quote on your 3D printed object, or submit an already built design here.
Considering CNC Milling Instead of 3D Printing?
As prototyping services, each has the capability to design and build extremely high-quality objects. However, 3D printing has some advantages over CNC milling, that make it well worth the investment, especially in smaller production runs. While CNC milling does have great dimensional accuracy, it is a subtractive process, which means it creates a lot of waste, and takes a while to reach the final result. 3D printing, on the other hand, is extremely detailed, affordable, and leaves very little waste behind. 3D printing is also much less stressful on the labor requirements, which translates to a better cost for you, the customer.
Non-Disclosure Agreement
In the business of prototypes, we understand that confidentiality can be very important. If you have your own NDA that you would like us to sign, then send it over to us and we’ll be happy to sign it.