What are the advantages and disadvantages of Rapid prototyping?

What is Rapid prototyping?
Rapid prototyping (RP) quickly creates a physical part directly from its CAD model data using various manufacturing techniques. Rapid prototyping can be used at any stage of the product development cycle for any components or sub-components. Prototyping can be repeated numerous times along the new product design process using the test data to achieve the desired part.

High fidelity prototype – ReFlex Hand prototype and final production version
High fidelity prototype – ReFlex Hand prototype and final production version ( Source: Formslabs)
Rapid prototyping is a relatively new term and, in its simplest form, creating a prototype quickly to visually and functionally evaluate a part or some part features. Sometimes individual parts are rapidly created separately and assembled to test the prototype product.

So what is a Prototype? In an engineering product design context, a prototype is a preliminary version of the end-product used to evaluate the design, test the technology, analyse the working principle, and provide final product specifications. Prototypes are an integral part of engineering product design and, more importantly, in new product development.

Rapid Prototyping Advantages
Rapid prototyping provides engineer, design and development teams with distinct advantage such as:
The ability to explore and realize concepts more quickly. This efficiency in time and cost allows teams to move beyond the mere visualization of a product, making it easier to grasp the properties and design of a product.

Apply repeated designs and incorporate changes that allow for the evaluation and testing of the product. This iterative process provides a roadmap to developing and refining the final product.

Being able to communicate concepts concisely and effectively. Rapid prototyping takes ideas, images and concepts from flat and 2 dimensional visuals to hands-on products that clients, colleagues and collaborators can then see in action.

The ability to thoroughly test and refine a concept. Being able to minimize design flaws with a small volume rapid prototype run helps eliminate costly design flaws that might not be evident during an early assessment.

Save time and money since setup and tooling aren’t necessary. Because the same equipment can be used to produce prototypes with different properties and materials, the costs and time outlay are kept to a minimum.

Disadvantages of rapid prototyping

When the focus is on a limited prototype, it can distract the product developers from doing proper product analysis of the complete project. They may overlook a better solution, or may not complete the specification that will result in poor engineered projects that can be hard to maintain.

If a prototype reached the customers, they might mistake it for the final product. If what they see is a rough prototype, they will not understand that it is subject to further finishing or polishing and may perceive that it is the actual performance or appearance of the final product. Worst, they may grow found a prototype feature that will not be included in the final product.

Rapid prototyping techniques can also limit your option. There are many other options available to make a prototype. Although they are not as fast, they have many good features too like creating many moving parts that interlocks and work together. In complicated projects, rapid prototyping may not be the best choice.

WKproto is a professional rapid prototyping and low-volume production manufacture specializing in 3D printing, CNC machining, and Vacuum Casting. Our factory and parter factories enable rapid prototyping of designs from our customers and low volume production for market verification.

We have three factories. 3D printing factory meets the demands of most 3D printing services with 100 SLA machines, 10 SLS machines, 10 MJF machines, 10 SLM machines, and 20 FDM machines. CNC machining factories for processing metals, plastic and more materials with more than 200 machines for CNC milling/CNC lathes/EDM / Wire EDM and the Vacuum Casting factory is for low volume production for ABS、PC、PP、PE、PA、POM、PMMA、PVC.