CommunicationShipping & Tariff CostConfidentiality & ITARQualification All in One Place
Selecting the Best 3D Printing Prototype Service for Your Custom Products and Application
Recent Posts
Addressing the Common Design Issues in Injection Molding Plastics
At Elite Mold & Engineering, we try to ensure the success of every injection molding project by addressing any design issues well before production is underway. Our integrated prototyping and product development services bring any potential issues to light, while...
Rapid Injection Molding: An Increasingly Crucial Service for Supply Chain Sustainability
Rapid injection molding is one of the key ways that American manufacturers have risen to the challenges of today’s global supply chain. It’s no secret that most plastic products are made in China. Traditionally, when customers thought of molded plastics, Chinese...
A Guide to STL Files for 3D Printing Projects: STL vs. CAD Models and Other Critical Info
Creating a custom STL file for your parts is one of the crucial early steps in the 3D printing process. Essentially, an STL file is a 3D model that precisely describes the surface geometry of your part as a complex structure built up from interlinked triangles. We’ll...
Rapid Prototyping Techniques Compared: Injection Molding, 3D Printing, and CNC Machined Prototypes
Elite Mold & Engineering specializes in three of the most flexible high-speed prototyping services on the market: rapid injection molding (RIM), 3D printing, and low-volume CNC machining solutions. Each of the three processes comes with its own set of unique...
Prototyping is a highly intricate process that can be streamlined through the art of additive manufacturing. Today’s 3D printing technology allows us to build your prototypes much faster, more accurately, and make iterative design changes far more easily.
While many of today’s 3D printing services offer rapid results with minimal involvement, there are some crucial questions you should ask before sending your custom part designs off to be printed.
3 Questions to Consider Before You Begin Your Prototyping Project:
Do you require prototype design assistance?
If your prototype design is fully developed and complete, that’s one thing – you simply need a quality-backed 3D printing service provider to bring your designs to life. However, in many cases, the prototyping phase is your best opportunity to further refine and optimize your products for cost and/or performance.
Elite offers assistance at every stage of your prototyping project – from initial product design to iterative improvements to low-volume production. Through value-adding solutions such as design for manufacturability (DFM) and material optimization, we can help you achieve the highest quality, most cost-effective prototype possible.
Will you be transitioning your project to high-volume injection molding?
Another important consideration is your future production goals. Are your prototypes simply proofs of concept, a low-volume run, or do you intend to transition into full-scale injection molding?
If it’s the latter, you should consider a full-service, single-source provider that can tackle both phases of your project. At Elite, the collaborative design and prototyping process gives us the perfect segue into high-volume injection molding when required, streamlining your products to market.
What’s the best material choice for printing your custom prototypes?
Prototypes come in many different shapes and sizes, with many different budgetary and performance constraints, and many different end-use applications, etc. All of these considerations will factor into the material choice for your project.
Even if you have a material in mind, you may even want to choose an additive manufacturer that offers multiple material options along with the expertise to back them up. In many cases, the custom prototyping process is refined through trying out different materials and achieving unique results for the application at hand.
At Elite, we utilize Carbon Digital Light Synthesis (DLS) 3D printing technology along with a wide range of materials. Our options include:
UMA 90 (Urethane Methacrylate)
A rigid single-part resin similar to conventional SLA resins.
CE 221 (Cyanate Ester)
A high-performance thermoplastic with outstanding strength, rigidity, and heat resistance.
FPU 50 (Flexible Polyurethane)
A rigid two-part resin with high impact strength and resistance to repetitive stresses.
SIL 30 (Silicone Urethane)
A soft, biocompatible, and tear-resistant elastomer that is ideal for skin-contact products.
RPU 70 (Rigid Polyurethane)
A rigid two-part resin with outstanding strength and stiffness, outperforming similar plastics such as ABS.
RPU 130 (Rigid Polyurethane)
A two-part resin that provides outstanding durability and high heat resistance.
EPU 41 (Elastomeric Polyurethane)
A production-grade elastomer with exceptional energy return, high resilience and low temperature retention of elastomeric properties.
EPU 40 (Elastomeric Polyurethane)
A high-performance elastomer that offers energy absorption, high elasticity, and outstanding tear resistance.
LOCTITE® IND147™ Resin
A premium one-part resin that provides high stiffness and high thermal resistance.
LOCTITE® IND405™ Clear Resin
A one-part clear resin that produces tough prototypes with a frosted clear aesthetic.
EPX 86 FR
A high-strength resin that is flame-retardant while offering exceptional toughness and long-term stability.
EPX 82 (Epoxy)
An epoxy resin that offers great durability, stiffness, and temperature resistance, ideal for a range of automotive and consumer applications.
Michigan’s Leading 3D Printing Prototype Specialist
Elite Mold and Engineering is proud to be one of the nation’s leading injection molding companies offering 3D printed prototyping solutions. Our additive manufacturing capabilities are engineered to compliment our plastic injection molding processes, offering our customers a streamlined, single-source solution from prototype to production.
Communication
By utilizing domestic tooling, you can benefit from improved communication with your tooling vendor. No more late-night meetings or waiting days for a response from an overseas vendor. Instead, with both parties in the same or similar time zone, you can ensure timely communication that aligns with your schedule. Moreover, this approach allows you to save valuable time and money on travel expenses for potential tryouts.
Confidentiality & ITAR
When working on a highly confidential or new design, where getting to the market first is crucial, confidentiality becomes an absolute necessity. By partnering with a domestic U.S. supplier that possesses complete in-house mold construction capabilities, you can have greater confidence in the security of your data, knowing that it will not be shared without your knowledge. This is particularly essential for government projects that require ITAR data protection, making the utilization of a domestic tooling vendor a mandatory requirement.
No Additional International Shipping or Tariff Cost
With a domestic tooling supplier, you can avoid additional charges such as international freight, customs, and tariffs. The savings on shipping costs can help offset the price differences between low-cost country tooling and domestically built options. Furthermore, by choosing domestic suppliers, you can avoid delays caused by mold transportation via ocean freight or costly airfreight shipments. Saving both time and money is made possible with a domestic tooling supplier.
Qualification All In One Place
When constructing and qualifying a mold, it is essential to possess prior knowledge of any modifications or tuning that have already been undertaken. By opting for domestic mold construction, your chosen provider can ensure that they possess a comprehensive understanding and documentation of all prior work completed on the mold. This facilitates a more efficient problem-solving process and enables effective troubleshooting of potential flaws.
Let Elite Become Your Preffered Domestic Tooling Partner
Elite Mold & Engineering has been crafting top-notch plastic injection molds domestically in the United States for nearly four decades. Our talented team of experienced designers and skilled professionals in the Tooling Department are dedicated to constructing robust, high-quality, and efficient molds tailored to meet your specific project requirements.
Discover the multitude of benefits when you choose a domestic tooling source. With our expertise, experience, and commitment to quality, we provide a multitude of key advantages that will streamline your operations. Our local presence ensures seamless communication, offering you the convenience of direct and efficient collaboration. Elite’s stringent quality control measures guarantee precision and reliability, delivering top-notch tooling solutions tailored to your specific needs. Also, by choosing a domestic source, you support local businesses and contribute to the growth of your community. Our quick turnaround times ensure that you stay ahead of the competition, enabling you to meet even the tightest project deadlines. Embrace the numerous advantages of a domestic tooling source and watch your productivity soar.