800.373.3575

800.373.3575

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Rapid Prototyping Services

Craftsmen’s team of highly skilled industrial fabrication specialists service a wide range of custom and production rapid prototyping services for corporations and government organizations.

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Craftsmen Industries knows that the early stages of the development process for your products are the most important. Which is why we take pride in offering an abundance of rapid prototyping options that are sure to give your products a great head start no matter which method you may chose.

Let Craftsmen take your idea and produce a high quality prototype that will allow you to showcase your new product in confidence!

Rapid Prototyping Examples

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3101 Elm Point Industrial Drive

St. Charles, MO 63301

Toll Free 800.373.3575

What is rapid prototyping?

Rapid prototyping is a common first step within the product development cycle that quickly portrays the initial design. During this stage of the development process the team is focused on the functionality of the product or components being created. These prototypes will contain the essential features necessary to test and gather feedback. The speed at which these prototypes can be created is highly valued which means quick turnaround processes such as 3D printing or CNC machining are recommended.

Common types of prototyping projects by Craftsmen:

  • Mobile Laboratories
  • Mobile Surveillance Units
  • Data Collection Units
  • Mobile Kitchen Units
  • Battery Storage Containers
  • Filtration Containers
  • Water Treatment Containers

Common types of prototyping methods:

  • Stereolithography
  • Selective Laser Sintering
  • Direct Metal Laser Sintering
  • Fused Deposition Modeling
  • Multi Jet Fusion
  • PolyJet
  • Computer Numerically Controlled Machining
  • Injection Molding

What are the benefits of rapid prototyping?

One primary benefit of prototyping large products is the creation of a single unit or smaller quantities allowing you to test the functionality and gather feedback on the product or components you are presenting and conclude if they’ve fulfilled their design goals before going into mass production.

Common benefits of rapid prototyping:

  • Grants functionality testing with minimal capital
  • Grants the ability to see human factors and ergonomics

What materials are used?

The materials being used in rapid prototyping will drastically differentiate based on the process you choose and the product or component needed. For example, take a process such as (DMLS) or Direct Metal Laser Sintering for smaller products. This process can use a wide variety of materials such as stainless steel, titanium, chrome, aluminum, and Inconel. Then on the other hand, you can use a 3D printing process like (MJF) or multi jet fusion which uses materials such as black nylon. Deciding which process to use should come in the early stages of your manufacturing process and in return will provide you with what material your project will require. Larger prototypes like mobile laboratories will require a variety of materials used, mostly metals like aluminum and steel. 

What timelines do rapid prototyping services require?

There are dozens of different processes you can use to create prototypes, which is why narrowing down an average length of time for a project to be complete is extremely difficult. With that being said, the main attraction with rapid prototyping is just that, rapid speed. Small fabrication options can take less than a week, and some can be done in just one day. Large prototypes like mobile laboratories or surveillance units can take months for design and build. Process and materials will be the main elements when developing your completion timeline. 

What is the typical price range of rapid prototyping? 

Cost variance will greatly depend on a multitude of different factors. The factors include machining method, size of the object, design complexity, finishing method, quantity of material used to create the part, labor cost, and how much post-production evaluation will need to be done.
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