Rapid Prototyping
Since being founded in 1991, Solid Concepts has become one of the leading rapid prototyping firms in the world. Our engineers helped develop the first commercial rapid prototyping system, and our staff holds over two dozen rapid prototyping patents. This deep knowledge base and extensive experience in rapid prototyping allows us to provide the fastest and most accurate rapid prototyping services available, usually at a lower cost than other service providers. We provide PolyJet, SLA, SLS, HDSL™, CNC, and QuantumCast™ cast urethane rapid prototypes, as well as SolidView® software.
Rapid Prototyping Systems
We provide rapid prototyping services at each of our five facilities. Solid Concepts has one of the largest and most diverse collections of rapid prototyping machines available, including:
- 11 3D Systems Sinterstation® HiQ + HS Selective Laser Sintering machines
- 9 3D Systems SLA-500 stereolithography machines, upgraded with 800mW solid state lasers
- 1 3D Systems SLA-7000 stereolithography machine
- 4 3D Systems SLA-250 stereolithography machines
- 1 3D Systems Viper Pro stereolithography system
- 1 3D Systems Viper 2si stereolithography machine
- 3 Objet Eden500V PolyJet systems
- 2 EOS P 730 Laser Sintering Systems
More Information About our Rapid Prototyping Processes
Poly Jet – High Resolution Concept Models – This rapid prototyping process has a layer thickness as small as 16 microns (.0006”) and is ideal for making detailed rapid prototypes. The process uses ink-jet technology combined with UV curable materials to quickly and economically produce highly detailed and accurate physical prototypes.
SLA – Versatile Rapid Prototypes These versatile prototypes are ideal for concept models, masters and patterns using stereolithography, the most accurate and precise rapid prototyping technology available
High Definition Stereolithography Solid Concepts uses modified SLA equipment to produce rapid prototypes. This rapid prototyping technology has been specially tuned to allow for cost-effective production of .004” (0.102mm) layer models.
QuickCast – Investment Casting Patterns in 2005 Solid Concepts partnered with a leading polymer chemist to develop the best investment casting photopolymer/build style system. This rapid prototyping system provides accurate, strong, fully drained, consistent patterns that are 10 to 35% lighter than those built with ordinary build styles and polymers.
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS®) SLS is a rapid manufacturing process which created 3D parts by using a laser to selectively sinter (heat and fuse) a powdered material. SLS can be used for rapid prototyping parts early in the design cycle and can also be used to manufacture end-use parts.
CNC Machined Prototypes & Patterns Solid Concepts can quickly machine prototypes from virtually any engineering material, including plastic, aluminum and steel. This rapid prototyping process uses state-of-the-art CNC software and equipment to create prototypes directly from CAD data.
The Rapid Prototyping Process The rapid prototyping process utilizes virtual designs drawn from CAD or modeling software. It then creates very thin cross sections. Each of these sections is physically created, and added to the previous cross-sections until a model is complete. The finished physical model and the virtual model correspond almost exactly. The rapid prototyping machine reads data from a CAD drawing, usually using the STL file format to exchange data from the CAD software to the machine. It utilizes a process called additive fabrication to put down these successive layers, using powders, liquids or sheet materials. The model is then heated, fused, or otherwise treated to connect each of the cross sections until the full model is created. These physical layers correspond to the virtual cross-sections created in the CAD model. This process allows manufacturers to create almost any shape. |