Functional & Working Prototype

The Functional Prototypes That Match Final Products

• Using the same material as the final product, realistically simulate the mechanical function, chemical resistance, thermal properties of the end use product.
• Creating a more complex prototype of working mechanisms to check form and fit, and ensuring that all parts fit within an assembly.
• Creating high-precision functional prototypes to measure, compare, or check design errors, dimensional differences and tolerances acceptable.
• Functional optical prototypes support photometric development engineering testing, including optical transmission, refractive index and transmittance, etc.
• Using add-inserts, live hinges, or overmolds to mimic the functionality of the product and combining these simulations into a functional prototype that runs like a final product.
• Building functional prototypes is also a great way to quickly test the surface finish, texture and feel of different materials on your final product.

CNC Machining

CNC machining is typically used to manufacturing functional prototypes and production parts, necessary for products development and engineering. It is a process of "reductive manufacturing", adopting programmable and automated machine tools to manufacture a piece of metal or plastic by removing material with milling, turning or grinding controlled by a computer. This traditional method produces superior strength and surface finish than any other prototyping technologies.

CNC machining offers a wide range of engineering-grade material selection, allowing the working prototype to have the desired material properties while also ensuring optimal dimensional tolerances. So, this is the best way to test the prototype of form fit and function.

Rapid Tooling in Aluminum Molds

Rapid aluminum tooling is a fast and cost-effective method of plastic molding; it can not only manufacture hundreds of functional test prototypes close to the final product, but also provide on-demand production of end-use parts for low-volume manufacturing.

Rapid injection molding provides a better choice for those clients needing low volume test parts. At the same time, it will be able to bridge the gap between prototype and production, get your functional and form-fit tests done quicker, allow you to show potential consumers a definitive finished product, and let any issues to be discovered and corrected well before them transferred to manufacturing.

Rapid tooling is often far more cost effective than a production mold due to faster in building and shorter cycle time, so iterative design changes are usually less expensive.