You’ve done it. After countless hours pouring your heart and soul into your design, you are ready to produce a prototype. Now you have to decide on the best tools and process to complete that design so you can realize your dream. There are dozens of ways to create your prototype, from sketches, wireframes, and videos to physical models. However, your best bet is to work with 3D printing companies.
Why Should You Work With 3D Printing Companies?
Businesses all across the United States have begun to turn to a 3D printing business to help the design process and produce prototypes. 3D printing technology is excellent for high-volume product development. Using a 3D printing business, you can create a relatively cheap, fast, and high-quality prototype anywhere along the design process. However, you might be wondering what benefits you get from hiring a 3D printing company.
7 Benefits of Hiring a 3D Printing Company
1. Customized Designs
3D printing tech allows design customization. The right 3D printing business is going to accommodate you, down to the nitty-gritty details. The company will have high-tech computer-aided design software, or CAD, so that your file is easily transferrable to powerful 3D printing equipment. This ensures that you get exactly what you are looking for.
Additionally, the highly-trained technicians at your service provider can help you with your CAD files. The use of CAD software at your service provider ensures that you get to pick the size, dimension, color, etc., of your project.
2. Reduced Waste
Conventional injection molds and CNC cutting create a lot of waste. These methods remove material from solid blocks, shaving off bits and pieces that then lay by the wayside. Conversely, 3D printing only adds the materials that are needed. This means you don’t have extra material waiting when you are finished, and you haven’t had to throw away tons of wasted raw materials. 3D printing also makes it easy to reuse materials.
Hiring a 3D printing company reduces waste and reduces your stress and wasted time. The reduction in waste products is better for the environment and is better for your company’s bottom line.
3. Easy Replication
Reaching out to a top 3D printing company also makes product replication easy. You can order seven, 100, or 1000 prints, any number you want, and receive carbon copies of the 3D print you requested. Your CAD file detailing your product will be used to create as many of your products as you desire.
The best part is that you know the product is reproduced in the correct dimensions. You get as many of your products as you need, and you also know they are all high quality.
4. Fast Prototyping
Hiring a 3D printing service fast-tracks your manufacturing process. In hiring a printing service, your business is able to quickly and efficiently create and reproduce prototypes. Time is money, and the 3D printing process saves you a lot of time, thereby saving you money.
5. Durability
When you hire the right 3D printing servicer to help you with your 3D printing needs, you are going to get more durable, longer-lasting products. To get superior products, ensure that you hire a reputable company that uses durable materials for their prints. The materials used in 3D printing significantly affect the product’s lifespan.
One great option is to use polymer. Polymer is heated and released with a fine-tuned nozzle head during the 3D printing process. The polymer is set layer-by-layer and hardens as it dries. This results in a product that can stand the test of time.
6. Cost Effective
Purchasing a 3D printing machine is expensive and not going to be the most cost-effective move for your company. However, the cost of 3D printing is much more manageable and becomes cost-effective when you hire a 3D printing servicer. The 3D printing company is going to be able to work for you in a way that saves you time, money, and materials.
Another consideration is that by using a 3D printing company, you can alter the size of your order depending on your need and budget size. Prior to hiring a 3D printing servicer, check out their terms and service plans. You want to determine whether they have minimum order requirements before choosing a company.
7. Reduced Risk
Choosing to retain a top 3D printing company ensures that you are shouldering less risk. 3D printing businesses have the expertise, trained technicians, and specialized equipment to ensure that your product is created without an issue. Doing the job on your own means a heavy investment in equipment, materials, and a massive learning curve.
Choosing a reputable servicer saves you time, money, and a lot of effort. You don’t want products that are low quality or a prototype with soft spots any more than you want a product that falls apart in your hand. Using a 3D printing servicer ensures that you get to test your product throughout the design process, lowering your risk. The reduced risk alone makes hiring a 3D printing servicer worth it.
Choosing the Right Company
There are dozens of 3D printing companies that you can choose for your project. However, choosing the right 3D printing company can make or break your 3D printing experience. So how do you find the right one? We’ve broken it down into seven categories: customer service, quality, experience, cost, reputation, and types of printing offered.
1. Customer Service
The company that you choose needs to have exemplary customer service. This means that they listen to their customers and are able to communicate effectively. A good company will inform you about printing technology updates and pertinent updates to their business. You need a company that values communication and keeps in contact with you throughout the printing process.
2. Quality
In addition to superior communication, the company that you hire needs to prioritize the quality of the products that they produce. Never sacrifice the quality of your products because you can save a quick buck. Check the quality of the prototypes produced by the company before you choose their services. The quality of their materials, equipment, and technicians is going to determine the quality of your product.
3. Experience
While choosing the perfect company for your 3D printing needs can be challenging, don’t give up. Next, you need to pay attention to the company’s experience. Experienced companies are going to be able to offer your the best services. Next, check out the background of the company. How long have they been printing? Determine the knowledge the company has before you hire them.
4. Cost
Many companies on the market offer 3D printing services. However, these services vary from very cheap to highly expensive. You need to compare the costs of the different companies. A company with cheap services may not have products that are excellent. Conversely, an extremely expensive company may not be cost-effective for your business.
5. Reputation
Reputable companies are going to have a good reputation in the 3D printing industry. Check the records of the company. You can look at reviews from previous customers, ask around for word-of-mouth recommendations, and look at the Better Business Bureau. Make sure the company you choose has a good reputation and is trustworthy.
Remember that you should also watch for red flags, such as companies that have very new websites or that request unnecessary information. Another red flag is a company that only offers an email as its point of contact. Make sure that you can actually speak to someone about the product and any concerns that you may have. It’s even better if you are able to drop by their point of business and speak to them in person.
6. Types of 3D Printing Offered
Now that you’ve decided that 3D printing technology is the way to go, you need to choose what type of 3D printing you will use. 3D printing includes multiple manufacturing technologies that produce parts layer-by-layer. 3D printing types include:
- Digital Light Process (DLP)
- Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)
- Electron Beam Melting (EBM)
- Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
- Multi Jet Fusion (MJF)
- PolyJet
- Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
- Stereolithography (SLA)
To choose the correct 3D printing process for you and your prototype, you need to understand each process as well as its strengths and weaknesses. Good 3D printing companies will walk you through these processes and help you choose the right one for you.
3D printing technology ensures that you are able to turn concepts into reality faster than ever before. This means that your products are built quickly and cheaply without sacrificing the overall quality of your product. Reach out to Midwest Designs LLC today to learn more about our 3D printing services, including prototypes, gadgets, airsoft, logos, and figurines.