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Metal prototyping is crucial for many industries from aerospace to automotive manufacturers to electronics companies because manufacturing effective metal prototypes helps them test out products that are in development, allowing them to deliver better finished results that will undergo serial manufacturing.
Advanced Tech Machining in Northern California - Fremont - San Francisco Bay Area provides metal prototyping services using a variety of methods at our ISO 9001:2015 Certified Machine Shop, utilizing the latest computer-controlled machinery, programming systems and our own custom tooling designs and fixtures to take any project from idea to completion.
Timely Quick CNC Metal Prototyping for Silicon Valley Research & Development Projects
When companies are testing a product they are developing, prototypes are manufactured to assess their proposed design. These will undergo trials to see how they will function under realistic conditions and the results will inform the manufacturer, showing them what modifications are necessary in order to produce a satisfactory product.
Prototypes can be made from a variety of materials depending on the manufacturing process used for prototyping as well as depending on the type of product or design that's being evaluated.
Metal prototypes are made using metal manufacturing methods such as CNC machining, casting or sheet metal forming. Aluminum, steel or other materials can be utilized. Metal is often used for pre-production prototypes, advanced versions that closely emulate the final product or component. Metal prototypes are designed to be utilized in similar conditions as the final product so they have to be functional in order to fulfill their mechanical role.
Metal prototype benefits include:
Superior mechanical or functional performance
More accurate test results
Better appearance
Improved chances of investor interest
Closer to final product performance
CNC Machining for Metal Prototypes
CNC Machining is an affordable way to create metal prototypes. The process utilizes computer instructions to guide metal cutting tools to precisely remove sections of material from a metal block, sculpting the final component. Digital CAD designs can be inputted into the CNC machinery to form the required object. These CAD designs can be easily modified in between prototype versions.
CNC Machining is low cost, offers design freedom and a wide array of useable materials while maintaining part strength.
CNC Machining for Prototype Production benefits include:
Production speed
Precision
Automated efficiency
Scalability
Easily modified/updated CAD design
Functional Prototype Production
Some prototypes have special functions, such as functional prototypes, hybrid prototypes and pre-production prototypes. These need to perform some kind of role and require particular material characteristics. Metal is often the best material for these characteristics as these prototypes are meant to perform almost like the final products.
Even non-functional prototypes can benefit from using metal in their construction. For looks-like prototypes that demonstrate concepts, using metal makes them look better, particularly when the final product will be mass-produced in metal as well.
Visually appealing metal prototypes will increase the chances of early investment and commercial success due to their impressive looks.
There are also long-term cost benefits of building metal prototypes, particularly if the final product will be mass produced in metal. It is easier to convert the established metal prototype manufacturing logistics to produce the final metal product, reducing the expense and time needed compared to converting from producing non-metal prototypes to metal products.
Prototypes can involve multiple components or can be made using multiple methods in conjunction.
Sheet Metal Prototypes use sheet metal fabrication processes, which entail cutting, deforming and assembling sheets of metal. This is used to create brackets, enclosures and industrial parts. Sheet metal projects will require functional metal prototypes using the same sheet metal techniques that will be used during serial production.
Laser cutting, waterjet cutting, metal bending and welding are some of the processes involved in Sheet Metal Forming.
Using metal prototypes guarantees strength and high quality, which will result in more accurate test results.
Reach out to us for questions and inquiries, give us a call we'd love to connect.
We offer Custom Quotes 408-549-8448
Advanced Tech Machining
Northern California Machine Shop
Machine Shop, CNC Machining, EDM, Sheet Metal, Tube Modification
Our Location:
Phone: 408-549-8448
Email: bao.nguyen@atmachining.us
Advanced Tech Machining is a precision machine shop with state-of-the-art CNC machining centers and the most experienced machinists and programmers in Fremont, California. With over 30 years of experience working in the machining industry.
We make metal and plastic machine parts for aerospace, medical, automotive and semiconductor industries. Parts are manufactured using the finest equipment and decades of experience.
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