Not that long ago, new tech to create prototypes for industrial manufacturing was of limited scope and was developed at very slow paces. The last decade has proven to be an outstanding breakthrough for rapid prototyping services, with 3D modeling and machinery that can provide entrepreneurs with brand new and entirely functioning prototypes in a matter of days. The use of computers programs and equipment has also enhanced this craft beyond the wildest dreams of their conceivers. The ongoing advance of technology has taken most of the tooling process out of the human hands, and more complex devices that can create new products keep coming at increasing rates. These are some of the most popular tooling options that have been released in the past few years:
Printing Welders
One of the few limitations that 3D printing seems to have is that the size of the final products is determined by the size of the printer handling the job, meaning that creating a big sized project required a very expensive and large printer. A creative team in Deutschland has managed to overcome this setback by building a robotic arm with welding equipment that can handle certain metals to weld together 3D printed structures.
Medical Applications
3D printing has been able to overcome one of the most significant limitations on prosthetics and implants: it has made them affordable for the time in years. Most of these medical appliances are always custom made, so a one-size-fits-all solution is not possible. By using low-cost resins or metals, rapid prototyping services can create new limbs that can be mechanized at very competitive costs. Future developments could even help medical patients with movement limitations to walk on their own again.
Aeronautical Uses
NASA has to thank Elon Musk for the renewed interest of the world in space science. The visionary CEO of Space X designed and tested a new space engine using only 3D printing technology that managed to make a successful launch after years of trial and error. Many prominent voices in the field have stated that the new engine has opened new venues for space travel, exploration, as well as more commercial uses such as colonizing new places and hunt down new natural resources.
Rapid Printing Procedures
The creation of 3D prototypes commonly uses the imposition of layers upon layers of resins until the product is completed. Although the process doesn’t take even half the time manual crafting does, it still needs a lot of time to reach completion. New technology developed in America is allowing printers to handle raw material and resins in a liquid state. Rapid prototyping services can manage the creation of products almost a hundred times faster than the previous technique with a room for improvement to go even further and handle the creation of the final prototype in minutes.
Many of these technologies are readily available, but not every developer has been able to catch up, bear in mind the fact that many of these methods are still on the development stage and keep your eye for better results in the future.