In response to customer demand, metal prototyping has advanced quickly to become a go-to solution for a broad range of industries. With these processes, an advanced prototype manufacturing company can produce high quality parts and components made from a variety of metal materials quickly.

Methods and Applications for Metal Prototyping

For the fabrication of metal prototypes, several options are available and emerging:

  • Machining a prototype from Metal Stock
  • 3-D Printing using various new commercial technologies
  • Investment or Plaster Casting using wax Patterns
  • Prototype Sand Casting or Prototype Die Casting using temporary tools

For fabrication of the metal prototype, the manufacturer must look at the benefits of the individual processes and weigh how material properties, costs, and its similarity to production intent bear upon the process chosen.

Metal choice for Prototyping

Although desirable, it is sometimes necessary to use a material different for metal rapid prototyping than that of the finished product. For example, if a production aluminum casting is intended for manufacture using high pressure die casting, a die cast aluminum alloy such as A380 is often the intended choice. If the part is made for prototype by an alternate method, the alloy will likely be different out of processing necessity. In those cases it is best to evaluate and compare mechanical and thermal characteristics of the material used to determine how best to correlate the final results of testing. Aluminum and steel are the most frequently used materials for metal prototypes, however titanium, chrome based alloys, copper, magnesium, and other metals are used for specific application. Magnesium alloys continue to grow in product usage based on the advantages the material offers in its combination of thermal conductivity, strength, and low weight density.

Metal Product Capabilities

The automotive, medical, aviation, construction, aerospace, technical design, and other industries often choose metal parts in their designs for several advantages.

  • Heat Resistance – For both metal prototyping and product manufacturing, metal has a higher melting point compared to plastics. For that reason, there is less risk of degradation when exposed to high temperatures.
  • Incredible Strength – Metal, especially stainless steel, is strong, hard, and extremely durable. Even when making detailed prototypes, metal can withstand just about anything and hold the design perfectly.
  • Versatility – Using metal provides versatility. Because a manufacturer can use this material for a broader range of processes, it allows for design freedom and performance in a range of applications.
  • Cost-Effective – In a number of cases, metal is the more cost-effective option over plastic, which may be counter-intuitive to some. This makes it an excellent potential way to reduce costs in certain applications.

If you decide metal components are the correct choice for your product, at Global Tech Ventures we are prepared to support you through the development process, with capability to provide a range of outstanding metal prototyping options and volume production support. For information on how we can help with your project, visit our website or call to speak with a company representative. Let us turn your concept into a reality.