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3D Printing and Prototyping

The 3D printing and prototyping service lets you turn design into reality. Assess your product before creating a full run. Our expertise allows us to match the ideal prototyping process for the application.

We go the extra mile by taking in consideration:

  • Application of the prototype
  • Product feature size
  • Surface finish
  • Environment (UV and Heat)
  • Mechanical (loads, deflection and creep)
  • Dimensional accuracy
  • And more
 

The perfect match for you

Our process is flexible to fit your needs. For the prototyping process, we create 3D printed objects from a digital 3D file. We can work from a file that you supply, or we can create them by building CAD models. We can base models on sketches or reverse engineer a physical sample. This is done by 3D scanning, surfacing or a hybrid of the two processes. Prototyping processes we can provide include:

3D Printing

3D printing allows for rapid prototyping and is suitable for most needs. The different available techniques include:

  • Stereolithography (SLA)
  • Continuous Digital Light Processing (CDLP)
  • Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM)
  • Material Jetting (MJ)
  • Binder Jetting (BJ)
  • Multi Jet Fusion (MJF)
  • Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
  • Selective Laser Melting (SLM)
  • Electron Beam Melting (EBM)

Vacuum Castings

Vacuum Casting results in high-quality parts that are comparable to injection-moulded components. Vacuum cast parts are suitable for fit and function testing, marketing purposes or low volume runs. They also benefit from a high-quality surface finish.

  • Polyurethane Casting – Can be made in a range of materials and hardnesses.
  • Silicone Casting

CNC Machining

We also offer CNC machining. CNC machining is a subtractive manufacturing process. Whereas 3D Printing is an additive manufacturing process. CNC machining is suitable for testing a product in an engineering material or has very high surface quality requirements that can’t be meet by 3D Printing technologies.

Prototyping for your requirements

3D Hub utilises both internal expertise and external specialist bureaus. This ensures production of prototypes that truly represent the end product in form and function.

If you need a prototype or low volume production run, we can help.