3D printed prototypes: what they tell you and what they do not

What a prototype is for

A prototype is a test, not the final product. According to Wikipedia it is the original model from which further pieces are later made. You usually look for an answer to three questions: does it fit, does it hold together, does it look good. The speed of the first piece is why 3D printing is used for it, see also rapid prototyping.

What can be checked on a prototype

• Dimensions and assembly. Whether the part fits into a housing or onto another part.
• Ergonomics. How it feels in the hand, how big and heavy it is.
• Basic strength. PETG takes more than PLA and the infill can be 10, 15 or 40%.
• Appearance. Colour and shape. The surface will have visible layers, we do not do any finishing.

You will not find out how the final material, such as ABS or nylon, will behave, because we do not print those.

How to go about the design

It is best to print one piece, try it and adjust the model. For guides and sliding fits, watch the tolerances. If a part is large, you can split it into parts and assemble the prototype step by step.

For a colour prototype, send a 3MF with colours assigned. Colour printing costs more, so for the first piece a single colour is usually more practical.

Ordering a prototype from us

You upload the model to the calculator and see the price and the lead time at once. The minimum order is 15 € excluding VAT, so it pays to put several pieces or variants into one order. When the prototype fits, you repeat the same order for a small run.

The big advantage of a 3D printed prototype is that a change costs only a new file. If the first piece is a millimetre too big or too small, you fix the model, upload it again and the price and lead time are visible straight away. With classic manufacturing you would pay for a change with new tooling.