We understand that most people looking for a price guide for rapid prototyping don’t want irrelevant info. You want to know how expensive it will be, what affects that price, and how to get your prototype done fast without wasting time or blowing the budget. That’s where this guide comes in.

We wrote this guide for engineers, product designers, and teams who don’t have time to guess and aren’t sure where to start. You’ll find real numbers, straight-up comparisons, and simple ways to cut down expenses without cutting corners. We have also put together a quiz for you (find it directly under the key takeaways section) to help you decide what type of prototype will best fit your needs.

If you want to go straight to the source to talk about your project, give us a call on 1-888-202-2052 or get in touch with us. We’ve helped clients across North America go from initial idea to physical prototype in days, not weeks. We offer vacuum casting, 3D printing, CNC machining, and mold making all in one place. Get in touch for a fast quote, clear advice, and consistent results. We’re happy to talk you through your project, even if we don’t end up working together.

Key Takeaways

• Rapid prototyping expenses vary based on method, material, and part complexity
• 3D printing and vacuum casting offer faster turnaround and lower startup price than traditional tooling
• You can reduce expenses by optimizing your CAD file and choosing the right process for your part
• Post-processing, tolerances, and material selection can make a big difference in final pricing
• JCAD Inc. helps North American businesses move faster with quick quotes, smart advice, and high-accuracy prototypes

Want to know which prototyping method will work best for your part? Answer a few questions below and find out!

What Is Rapid Prototyping & Why Does It Matter for Product Development?

“The ability to fail fast and cheaply is what separates companies that ship on time from those that don’t. Rapid prototyping compresses that failure cycle from months to days.” ~ Eric Ries, author of The Lean Startup

Rapid prototyping helps companies move faster in the product development process. You can turn ideas into realistic proofs of concept and test product properties before mass production. It lets you build high-fidelity prototypes that look and work like final products. You’ll catch problems early, reduce or eliminate rework, and avoid wasting time. Whether you’re using fused deposition modeling or selective laser sintering, the goal stays the same. Create prototypes quickly, test them, and move to the next phase knowing your mass production run is exactly what you want.

How Much Does a 3D Printed Prototype Really Cost Today?

The price of a 3D printed prototype depends on print time, material, and surface finish. Prices can start around $50 but climb fast if you’re printing large parts or want metal parts 3D printed. Desktop 3D printers are cheaper but limited, and there’s a steep learning curve and time cost in figuring out 3D modeling and printing for yourself, especially for one-off parts. For parts that need to look and work like the final product, pro machines are better. Use lattice structures to lower expenses and weight.

Understanding the Hidden Costs in Rapid Prototyping

Rapid prototyping prices can vary based on the tool, machine time, design complexity, and volume. A single early-stage model might cost $80, while multiple parts manufactured in a batch bring the total price down. The prototyping process also changes things, CNC machining often costs more than 3D printing for one-offs. Additive manufacturing helps reduce setup but still depends on material and finish. You won’t get a clear price without these details. Recently, we’ve been using vacuum casting for almost all prototypes as it gives a better result than 3D printing.

Some tips for keeping costs down:

• Choose the right prototyping method for your part
• Reduce expenses by simplifying geometry
• Plan for setup, run time, and support removal in the price or your time investment

Top Factors That Increase or Reduce Rapid Prototyping Prices

There are a few things that can push your additive manufacturing expenses up fast. Parts that need tight accuracy or support heavy loads often take longer to print, especially in SLA or SL machines. If you outsource every stage, you pay for setup, handling, and changes made after an early iteration. Some teams switch to injection molding too early and spend more than needed for a simple proof of concept. A better approach is to match the part to the right method and avoid extra steps that increase cost unnecessarily.

A prototype of the same product in different materials

Comparing Common Rapid Prototyping Methods by Price and Accuracy

A lot of teams pick one prototyping method and stick with it across the whole project. In our experience that’s a mistake. We’ve seen clients cut their spend by 30-40% just by switching processes between iterations. Eg. Print the first version in FDM to check fit and form. Then move to SLA or CNC for the version that needs to hold up under real testing. There’s no rule that says every round of iteratoins has to come off the same machine. The teams that treat prototyping like a toolkit instead of a single track get to validation faster and spend less getting there.

Also, not every prototyping method gives you the same results. Some machines are fast but rough, others offer better detail with longer lead time. Prototyping with 3D printing works well for low runs, while CNC machining fits stronger, high-load parts. If you need better finish, SLA or SLS or vacuum casting might be your best option. Each choice affects total expense and delivery.

Some common rapid prototyping processes and their use cases include:

1. Vacuum casting: best overall for cost, speed and output
2. SLA: good for smooth surface, better accuracy
3. SLS: best for durable parts, no support needed
4. CNC: best for functional testing, for metal or wood
5. FDM: lower price, fast turnaround

CAD File Quality Can Make or Break Your Prototyping Budget

Bad CAD files waste time and raise your prototyping expenses. One missing radius or unsupported wall can mess up the toolpath or break a part mid-run. Additive manufacturing methods like SLA or SLS are less forgiving with thin or floating features. If your team works directly from computer-aided designs, keep your tolerances tight and formats clean. A good file reduces lead time, scrap, and changes later. If you work with us, we’ll check your file before printing to avoid rework. We have lots of experiences, so can easily spot issues others miss.

Use neutral STL, IGES, or STEP files. It’s also a good idea, to always preview your file before sending it out too.

How Post-Processing Impacts Your Final Prototyping Budget

Post-processing can shift your final price more than you think. Cleaning, sanding, painting, or curing takes time and adds labor costs. If your proof of concept needs a specific surface finish or tight tolerance, that means extra steps. Extra steps = extra time and extra cost. It doesn’t matter if you’re using additive manufacturing or subtractive methods, the post-processing phase matters. This is where you lose money if you skip planning or try and rush the process. Long print runs or bad orientation also lead to more cleanup being required.

Some post-processing steps that increase cost include: Support removal, surface smoothing, painting or coating and final curing time.

Clients usually focus on material costs and machine time, but the biggest line item on most prototyping projects is revisions. Every time a part goes back for changes, you’re paying for setup again, new material and more more post-processing. As an example, one client came to us after four failed rounds with another prototyping shop. The geometry was fine. The problem was that nobody had checked wall thickness against the selected process before hitting print. That single oversight cost them three weeks and over $1,200 in wasted builds. Catching those issues before production starts is where the real savings are.

Should You Outsource Rapid Prototyping or Do It In-House?

J-CAD Inc. recommendation: If you’re running fewer than 10 prototype cycles a year, outsourcing almost always makes more financial sense. The cost of maintaining machines, buying materials in small quantities, and training operators / hiring CAD designers adds up quickly. We work with teams who tried the in-house route and ended up spending more per part and more time than they would have hiring us. Send us your file and we’ll quote it within 24 hours so you can compare the numbers yourself, we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised!

If you’re working under pressure, it make sense to outsource. Managing machines, materials, and operators in-house takes time. Outsourcing to a shop like JCAD Inc. means shorter lead time and fewer issues. We can usually turn your prototype around in days, not weeks or months. We’ve already handled the setups, testing, and cleanup. You just send the file and get parts that match your specs. That’s faster than trying to dial in a new 3D printer or CNC router with every round.

Breakdown of Additive Manufacturing Services and What You’re Paying For

The price of rapid prototyping includes more than just device time. When you hire a service provider, you’re paying for setup, handling, material prep, and part inspection. Some shops may also include packaging or dimensional reports. If you’re comparing quotes, check what’s covered.

“Once achieved, maintaining relevance requires constant listening, questioning, prototyping and testing,” as Roger Spitz said.

Real-World Rapid Prototyping Cost Examples by Industry

Different industries handle prototyping needs in different ways. In medical device work, teams often use SLA to make high-fidelity prototypes that match production specs. Auto suppliers use CNC for stronger test parts. A consumer product team may go with vacuum casting to simulate real finishes without full tooling. These choices affect cost, speed, and testing results.

Common use-cases for prototyping processes:

• Medical: SLA, tight tolerance, mid-range prices
• Automotive: CNC, full-strength, more expensive
• Consumer goods: Vacuum cast, smooth finish, lower cost
• Industrial: SLS, functional parts, medium price

“Most of the budget blowouts we see come down to one thing: teams picking a process before they’ve properly looked at the part. When you match the prototyping method to what the part actually needs to do, half the cost problems disappear before you even hit print.” ~ Jason Vander Griendt, CEO of J-CAD Inc.

Tips to Reduce Prototyping Costs Without Sacrificing Quality

J-CAD Inc. Pro Tip: Before you send a file for quoting, export it as an STL and open it in a free mesh viewer. Look for inverted normals, non-manifold edges, and walls thinner than 0.8mm. These are the problems that cause failed prints, and most clients don’t catch them until the part comes back wrong. Five minutes of checking saves days of back-and-forth. Or just send the file to us to check or get us to create it for you from scratch and you will know it will be right!

There are smart ways to lower your budget without losing function. Start by choosing the right rapid prototyping methods for your part. Avoid overcomplicated geometry. Use draft angles and reduce wall thickness where it makes sense if you can. Also consider skipping full finishing on early-stage models. Remember the goal of a prototype isn’t perfectoin, it’s getting fast feedback.

Way we can keep your budget lower:

• Simplify the part
• Combine features
• Avoid sharp corners
• Use lower-cost materials
• Reduce post-processing steps
• Ask for feedback before finalizing design

How to Reduce or Eliminate Design Rework That Bloats Project Budgets

Fixing mistakes after printing quickly burns time and money. To reduce the costs, lock in your requirements before sending your prototype off for creation. Validate the part with a digital review or low-res prototype first. That will give you fast feedback without full cleanup or tooling. Rapid prototyping can vary in price based on how often you repeat the process. One wrong angle might delay your launch because the prototype needs more iterations.

A tip from Jason, CEO of J-CAD Inc.: If you’re prototyping a part with snap fits, threads, or press-fit features, always print a small test section of just that feature first. Full parts are expensive to reprint when one joint doesn’t work. Isolating the tricky geometry and testing it on its own costs a fraction of a full build and tells you exactly what needs adjusting.

Choosing the Right Rapid Prototyping Service: What to Ask Before You Sign a Contract

Not all rapid prototyping services are equal. To make sure the company you hire is a good fit, ask about lead time, material types, and file support. Some shops print directly from your CAD files, others need prep. Make sure they can handle your prototyping technique, especially for high-fidelity or functional parts. If they dodge questions about surface finish or tolerance, look elsewhere.

Some good questions to ask:

1. Can you work with my CAD file format?
2. What’s your typical lead time?
3. Do you offer post-processing options?
4. What materials and equipment do you use?
5. What’s included in the quote?
6. Can I see your reviews?

Our top recommendation for hiring: Ask any shop you’re evaluating to show you a part they’ve made in the same material and process you need. Photos on a website aren’t enough. You want to see surface quality, edge detail, and how they handle thin features. At JCAD, we’re happy to send sample parts or photos of past work in your specific material so you know what to expect before you commit.

How JCAD Inc. Helps You Reduce the Cost of Rapid Prototyping

J-CAD Inc. gives you fast quotes, clear timelines, and high-quality parts without long delays. We use both 3D printing, vacuum casting and CNC machining depending on your specs. Our team either checks or creates your CAD files before production to avoid issues that add cost later. You get functional parts for testing, not just looks. We can help guide you through each phase of product development with real advice, not vague promises, and we do everything in house, so no surprises!

Get in touch today on 1-888-202-2052 to talk about your project, we’d love to work with you!

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to prototype a product?

It depends on the method, size, and finish. A basic part can be less than $100. Complex ones go into the hundreds or sometimes thousands. If you need tight tolerances or full post-processing, the price goes up.

Why is rapid prototyping expensive?

It’s not always expensive, but the cost adds up when designs need high detail, long machine time, or custom materials. Changing the part mid-run also leads to wasted prints and higher spend.

What is the cheapest rapid prototyping technique?

FDM (fused deposition modeling, a common type of 3D printing) or vacuum casting is usually cheapest for simple parts. It works for quick fit checks or rough drafts. But it may not be strong enough or accurate for final stages.

How do I lower my prototyping cost?

Some ways to reduce prototyping costs include simplifying the design, picking the right prototyping method and skipping cosmetic finishes early on. Also, print one test part before committing to a batch production run.

Is it cheaper to use 3D printing or CNC machining?

3D printing is cheaper for short runs or detailed geometry. CNC makes sense for strong, testable parts but usually costs more upfront.

The post Cost of Rapid Prototyping in 2026: Price Guide appeared first on J-CAD Inc. 1.888.202.2052.

Lately we’ve been doing a LOT of vacuum casting. Often when clients come to us with new projects for prototypes or short-run manufacturing that they want 3D printed, we suggest they actually vacuum cast instead.

Why? Because you can get a better quality result with vacuum casting than you can with 3D printing, and it will be cheaper too!

If you want a quick idea of what your project will cost, use our vacuum casting cost calculator below. Once you’ve got a general idea of cost, you can get in touch for an exact quote – we’ll get back to you in 5-10 minutes! Or for a more in-depth guide into the cost of vacuum casting in 2026, keep reading the article below.

Vacuum Casting Price Guide

You’re probably trying to figure out vacuum casting costs because you need a low‑volume run, a fast prototype, or a custom part that made of production-grade plastic. You might be racing against a deadline. Maybe you have questions about materials, tolerances, lead time, or are just wondering “what’s this going to cost me?”

At J-CAD Inc. we make it simple: you bring your CAD file (or we help you create it if you prefer), then we guide you through resin choice, mold design, and setup, and then we run the vacuum casting process so you get parts that look and feel like the real deal.

We’ve worked with engineers, product designers, R&D teams and manufacturing engineers in automotive, aerospace, medical devices and consumer electronics (plus lots more), so we know your pain points like long lead times, inconsistent quality, obscure costs etc. We’ve built our service to beat those issues. Because we’re very streamlined and run lean we can pass thos ecost savings onto you.

We’re happy to advise you on vacuum casting materials (polymer, silicone, nylon, etc) so you don’t over‑spec and over‑pay for your project. Our vacuum casting machine setup, mold design and post‑processing workflows are efficient so you can hit your cost bracket and tolerance goals. We will give you transparent cost breakdowns including tooling, per‑part, finishing etc. so you can decide fast and with confidence whether we’re the right service provider for you.

If you’re an engineer or prototype lead wondering “what’s this vacuum cast run going to cost”, this article will walk you through the key drivers of cost. We’ll spell out what you should expect, what impacts price, and how you can work with a partner (like us) to minimize cost while hitting your required specifications.

Key Takeaways

• Vacuum casting cost depends mostly on mold design, material choice, and part volume.
• Knowing the resin type (e.g., urethane vs nylon) and finish level that you want early in the process helps keep costs down.
• Working with a full‑service provider like J-CAD Inc. helps you streamline the process from design to mold, cast, post‑processing to finished product. This is cheaper than working with multiple providers.
• Transparency in tooling cost and per‑part cost lets you plan and budget well.
• Fast turnaround and consistent quality matter just as much as price when it comes to prototype and small‑run manufacturing.

Vacuum Cast vs. Injection Molding: What’s More Cost-Effective?

Vacuum casting is often used when you need low-volume plastic parts fast. Compared to injection molding, the cost per mold is much, much lower eg. $200 – $1000USD for a vacuum casting mold, compared to $5000+ for an injectoin mold. Turnaround for vacuum casting is also short. It’s perfect for prototypes or small batch production runs. The process gives solid detail without high tooling expense.

Breaking Down Urethane Casting Costs in Prototyping

Urethane casting uses silicone molds and casting polymer to make plastic parts that match production quality. The price depends on mold structure, wall thickness, and polymer type used in the vacuum casting process. Each batch is cost-effective when you only need a few prototypes or functional units.

1. Material costs change with polymer hardness and surface finish.
2. Thicker walls use more polyurethane and raise unit cost.
3. Smoothing and post-processing also affect total price.

We can help you balance material selection and part design to hit your per-unit price target while keeping high-quality standards for your prototypes. There’s a lot of flexibility here, so let’s talk!

What Impacts the Cost of a Vacuum Casting Service?

A few choices shape the final vacuum casting fee. One is your prototype’s wall thickness. Thinner parts need less casting polymer and cure faster. Another is surface finish. A high-gloss look takes longer to smooth and clean.

Also, the type of silicone rubber used affects price, especially for molds that need to handle more than one cavity.

According to J. Lee Nicholson, cost collection in manufacturing works when you “consider all the elements of cost … before you determine the selling price of the manufactured product.”

What this means is that you cannot price a manufactured part properly unless you first understand every cost that goes into making it. How does this apply to a vacuum casting project? Let’s look at an example client project:

A company needs 30 prototype enclosures for a small electronics product. To make the enclosures they need to account for:

1. Master pattern

CNC or SLA pattern: $250 USD

2. Silicone mold

They need two cavities, each able to make about 15 parts.
Silicone tooling cost: $600 USD

3. Materials

Polyurethane resin cost: $8 USD per part
Colorant and additives: $1 USD per part

4. Labor

Casting, degassing, trimming, and demolding: $12 USD per part

5. Post processing

Light sanding and primer: $4 USD per part

6. Scrap

Typical loss: 2 parts ruined during early runs. Scrap cost: 2 parts x (resin 8 + colorant 1 + labor 12) = $42 USD

7. Overhead

Shop time, electricity, equipment use, project handling
Allocate $100 USD for this small job.

Therefore the total cost of the production run will equal:

Master pattern: $250
Silicone mold: $600
Resin: 30 x 8 = $240
Colorant: 30 x 1 = $30
Labor: 30 x 12 = $360
Post processing: 30 x 4 = $120
Scrap: $42
Overhead: $100

Total project cost: $1,742 USD

Cost per finished part

$1,742 USD divided by 30 = $58.06 USD per enclosure

Any projected profit can be added on top of the per enclosure price if the product is being mass produced.

Resin Selection Guide: Vacuum Casting Materials and Cost Tradeoffs

Vacuum casting materials include options like nylon, AB, and polyurethane. Each has different mechanical properties, cost, and surface quality. Choosing the right polymer affects everything from part durability to mold life.

This matters most when you’re testing high-quality prototypes or low-volume functional parts. Need toughness? Nylon fits. Need ABS-like feel? AB resin works well.

Depending on material, raw casting costs can range from $18-$20 per unit, to $30-$60 per kilogram.

Vacuum Casting Process Explained with Real Cost Examples

The vacuum casting process starts with an SLA 3D printing master model. A silicone forms around it, then polymer gets poured inside while a vacuum pump removes air bubbles. After cure time, parts come out ready for post-processing.

Here’s what you’re paying for:

From a best‑practice summary in manufacturing cost management: “Manufacturing costs consist of direct materials costs, direct labour costs, and manufacturing overheads.”

Custom Rapid Services: How to Cut Costs on Your Next Prototype

Design vacuum choices can change how much your prototype costs. Small changes like avoiding an undercut or tweaking wall thickness can drop your mold price fast. We can offer fast custom tweaks on these so you don’t waste money.

Need a one-off or a small series? Vacuum casting 3D printing beats CNC machining and 3D printing in setup time and soft tooling. And it keeps the per mold cost low.

CNC Machining or Vacuum Casting? Making the Right Call

If you’re making high-quality prototypes and low-volume production, vacuum casting beats CNC machining for unit cost. CNC works best when tolerances are tight or you’re cutting metal, but casting gets you plastic parts faster and cheaper.

Also, 3D printing CNC machining hybrids can help when you need quick iterations. Start with SLA, cast with PU, then machine features if needed.

We have a huge range of experience across manufacturing types, so we can compare your options with you, based on:

• Unit cost goals
• Production runs vs. short runs
• Thermoplastic vs. polymer use
• Material properties needed
• Timeline and polishing options

We’ll make sure we focus on high quality while still getting you a great cost.

Because as Henry Ford once said,

“Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.”

Beyond Price: What to Ask Your Vacuum Casting Machine Partner

Before hiring a vacuum casting service, check what’s included. Some manufacturers leave out polishing, cure time, or rework costs. Others don’t tell you how many cycles your silicone can handle per batch.

We try to keep everything clear. We show what affects your vacuum casting charges and help you avoid surprises later.

Before starting a project, make sure to ask your vendor:

1. How many parts can be made per mold?
2. Is surface quality guaranteed?
3. What vacuum pump setup is used?
4. Are costs fixed per batch or per-unit?
5. Can you match my 3D printer material in casting resin?

Frequently Asked Questions About Vacuum Casting Costs and Prices

What is the typical vacuum casting fee for a low‑volume run?

You’re looking at mold costs often between $200 and $1,000 for silicone tooling, plus a per‑unit price of about $10‑$100 depending on part size, complexity, resin choice and finishes.

How does wall thickness and cavity count affect unit cost?

Thicker walls use more resin and increase labor trimming time. More cavities mean higher tooling cost but lower per‑unit cost when volume rises. If you keep your design to one cavity with a moderate wall thickness you’re project is going to be more cost‑effective for small batch prototypes.

Can vacuum casting replace injection molding for functional parts?

Yes, but only for short runs and prototypes. For large scale production you’d still use regular injection molding. Vacuum casting services let you explore production‑grade resin choices without the upfront cost of steel tooling and mold making.

What resin choices influence cost and mechanical properties?

Your resin (polyurethane, AB‑like, nylon‑like etc.) is the main driver of both price and performance. Tougher materials (eg. nylon‑like) cost more. Simpler resins cost less. Pick what you truly need, so you avoid overpaying just for bench specs you won’t use.

What hidden costs should I watch for beyond per‑unit and tooling prices?

Some not-so-well-known costs to watch out for include: Post‑processing (eg. polishing, painting), mold life span (eg. how many parts you can cast from one mold), design changes or complexity (eg. undercuts or complex features), and other things like lead time all impact cost. Make sure your quote covers those when you’re getting your project quoted or you can face unexpected surprises.

Jason Vander Griendt

Jason Vander Griendt is a Mechanical Engineering Technician with years of experience working at major companies such as SNC Lavalin Inc, Hatch Ltd. Siemens and Gerdau Ameristeel. He is the CEO of JCAD – Inc., a company he started in 2006 after seeing a gap in the market for businesses who could assist clients through the entire product design and manufacturing process.

Jason has been featured in Forbes, has had his businesses analyzed and discussed in multiple start-up books, was a previous winner of the Notable8 Digital Innovator of the year award, and is a regular guest on business panels and podcasts. Email Jason at jason@jcadusa.com, or follow him on LinkedIn.

The post How Much Does Vacuum Casting Cost in 2026? Updated Price Guide appeared first on J-CAD Inc. 1.888.202.2052.

Otherwise, keep reading to learn more about the process.

Overview of the Vacuum Casting Process

Industrial manufacturing processes are getting increasingly challenging owing to the complex parts required and high production costs. Meeting these needs cost-effectively has birthed the vacuum casting process.

Vacuum casting, otherwise called polyurethane casting or urethane casting, is a manufacturing process that makes a cast of an object by drawing a liquid material into a silicone mold using a vacuum. This differs from a closely related process, injection molding (IM), in which the liquid materials are pushed into the mold by force.

The vacuum chamber offers the advantage of removing air bubbles that may interfere with the fine details of the final product. Hence, this process is a great method for rapid prototyping and manufacturing products with undercuts or fine details.

Production quality parts can be made using the vacuum casting process, and this type of manufacturing is often used to create visually enticing prototypes as well as non-mechanical consumer products.

The material used in this casting process is polyurethane and several types of poly are available depending on the temperature, flexibility, and durability required in the final product. These include rubber, PP, ABS, PC, etc. These materials offer varying properties for your rubber components or other polyurethane parts.

Vacuum casting or Urethane casting is a cost-effective process compared to IM batch production and other manufacturing processes for low volumes production.

Vacuum Casting vs Injection Molding

A vacuum casting machine. Image by Lukadent, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>

The vacuum casting process and injection molding share a lot of similarities. However, one of their biggest differences lies in the type of mold used.

In the latter, aluminum, steel, etc. are used in making molds. Vacuum casting on the other hand uses silicone molds. The cheap cost of silicone means that many manufacturers choose vacuum casting as a cost-effective manufacturing process for shorter production runs.

Vacuum casting allows for the manufacturing of multiple components of products simultaneously, hence increasing the efficiency and reducing the cost of the manufacturing process. Also, since the quality of the products is comparable to those from IM, vacuum-cast models can be used for fit and function testing and other marketing purposes. These molds have a limited lifespan however, so for large volume production runs an aluminum mold and manufacturing via an injection process is more appropriate.

Steps in the Vacuum Casting Process

This casting process involves the following steps;

1. Making a 3D Model of the Master Pattern

The vacuum casting process begins with making the vacuum cast component via the creation of a master model using rapid prototyping 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD).

The model specifications should be precisely calculated while creating the 3D model. Adhere to design guidelines and make adjustments where necessary.

2. Creating the Master Pattern For the Mold.

3D printing

After the design process the next step is 3D printing. The raw material for 3D printing can range from Polyurethane resin to metals and carbon fibers.

The master pattern is the object that will be used in making the silicone mold. The mold’s complexity is determined by the design of this primary model. Any deformities on the master pattern will be transferred to the silicone molds so it’s important to get the prototype right.

Other ways of making the primary pattern

Aside from using a 3d printer, there are several other ways of creating the master pattern. These include CNC machining, Stereolithography, and other economical methods that offer high precision and surface finish that creates high-quality prototypes.

3. Creation of the Silicone Mold

Making the mold requires the master pattern and a casting box.

The process starts with hanging the master pattern in the empty cavity of the casting box. Cores and inserts are also attached to the inside of the master model and in addition to these, casting gates and risers are also incorporated for pouring liquid silicone around the model suspended inside the casting box.

When the liquid silicone is poured into the casting box, it flows inside the design filling all crevices. It is allowed to cure inside the box at a temperature of 40°c for about 8-16 hours.

After the curing is completed, the mold is taken out of the box and cut along a preferred parting plane and the master model is removed leaving behind a mold. The entire process is done under vacuum pressure to keep casting deformations to a minimum.

It is important to note that silicone molds are subject to shrinkage owing to the thermal expansion of the silicone in the heating chamber. This shrinkage ranges from 1% to 4% and necessitates using high-quality silicone when using vacuum casting processes.

4. Preparing the Casting Resins

Before polyurethane casting, the poly resin mixture needs to be prepared. This is done by mixing the resin and other agents such as color pigment and heating the resin. The structural qualities of the product will determine the type of polyurethane to be used.

The resin mixture is made at 40°C in the heating chamber. The color pigment is also mixed at this stage. The mixture should be made homogeneous before pouring into the silicone molds.

When the solution is made homogeneous, the two halves of the mold are assembled and the mixture is poured into the mold using a funnel to aid uniform distribution and prevent air pockets from forming. The solution is then ready for the casting process.

5. Curing and Demolding

After the casting materials have been set in the mold and sealed, the mold is placed in the casting machine for casting under vacuum pressure.

The temperature and time of casting depend on the type of polyurethane used. When casting is complete, the mold is removed from the vacuum machine and its two halves are separated to remove the cast. The demolding stage of the vacuum casting process should be carefully done to avoid damage to the cast.

While removing the cast, excess material from gates and runners is trimmed off and any other additional finishing is done while making sure to maintain surface textures.

After these tasks are finished, the vacuum casting process is complete and the products are ready to be used.

Technical Specifications of the Vacuum Casting Process

Maximum Part Dimensions:

The size of the mold for the vacuum casting process is limited by the dimensions of the vacuum chamber which is typically 1900 x 900 x 750mm. The volume of the product is also a limiting factor with a maximum volume of 10 liters.

Minimum Wall Thickness:

To ensure that the mold is filled properly a wall thickness of at least 0.75mm is required. However, we recommend a wall thickness of at least 1.5mm.

Typical Quantities:

Depending on the mold’s complexity and casting material, each mold can be used to produce 20 to 25 copies of the prototype. Vacuum casting can be used to make small batches of quality parts using silicone molds. If you require larger numbers of the finished product consider aluminum molds instead.

Accuracy:

The vacuum casting process has an accuracy of ±0.3% with a lower limit of ±0.3mm on dimensions smaller than 100mm.

Typical Lead Time:

The vacuum casting process has a lead time of up to 20 parts in 15 days or less depending on the specifications and volumes of parts required.

Starting a short run or vacuum casting project

If you have an upcoming need for a short production run of items, look no further than the team here at JCAD!

We have decades of experience in all facets of manufacturing, including CAD design, prototyping, making master patterns and creating molds, either in aluminum for more durability, or silicone to aid in cost-efficiency.

Get in touch today via our quote form, talking to us through live chat or calling . We look forward to speaking with you!

Jason Vander Griendt

Jason Vander Griendt is a Mechanical Engineering Technician with years of experience working at major companies such as SNC Lavalin Inc, Hatch Ltd. Siemens and Gerdau Ameristeel. He is the CEO of JCAD – Inc., a company he started in 2006 after seeing a gap in the market for businesses who could assist clients through the entire product design and manufacturing process.

Jason has been featured in Forbes, has had his businesses analyzed and discussed in multiple start-up books, was a previous winner of the Notable8 Digital Innovator of the year award, and is a regular guest on business panels and podcasts. Email Jason at jason@jcadusa.com or follow him on LinkedIn.

The post Vacuum Casting Process Explained appeared first on J-CAD Inc. 1.888.202.2052.

It is very exciting to have a bright new idea for a product with a ton of applications. It’s even better if you can make money from it. But the process of getting through the design, budgeting, procuring raw materials and production stages can be daunting if you are not well prepared.

In this post, we will take you through that process. Keep in mind though that you can save money, time and a lot of stress as well as dramatically shortening the process and learning curve by seeking guidance and help from a company that specializes in manufacturing (like us here at J – CAD!).

The very first step after having a great idea is to design the product. For instance, if you want to make a new type of speakers, you will need to design the look and feel of the product including understanding the raw materials you are going to use. Since we are in the 21st century, we use computer-aided design (CAD) to create a product mock up.

Factoring in Costs For Computer Aided Design

To begin with, we need to create a 2D or 3D model of your product using a user-friendly CAD program that allows us to easily make changes to the design if we need to. A CAD design is basically a highly accurate computer simulation / model of your product idea.

In the past, CAD design software was used to analyze physical qualities of a project, like estimating how much heat and pressure a product could withstand or measuring the thickness and toughness of a product. You can do the same manually using geometric and numeric values of the design but why would you when it’s so much easier using a computer to do the calculations for you. Today, you can also get an estimated cost by analyzing the parameters of your digital model. That means you don’t have to wait until you have a physical prototype to make a budget estimate for producing anything from a single unit to many thousands or hundreds of thousands.

The cost of estimation with some software is literally as simple as this:

• We either design the CAD file for you, or if you already have a CAD file (in which case you don’t have to factor CAD design into the cost) we can import the file into our CAD programs.
• Create a price list with details like a description of the required materials, unit of measurement and unit price. You can also import a reference price book if you have one.
• Then we return to the CAD drawing and match each part of the product with its corresponding price and define the measurements.

For example, if you are costing the outer material of a speaker casing, define the area that the fabric covers in the measuring system you are following (cm/m/in etc).

We can do this for each part or the whole product. The ‘bill of quantities’ will give you a final tabulation of what materials you need and how much money it will take to manufacture one unit. This is incredibly useful information when you get to the next stage: prototyping, although fairly complicated for beginners to implement and understand. This is where enlisting the help of a manufacturing company comes in. We have experience with many different types of projects in many different industries. Based on previous projects we can give you an estimated cost, and then when we have a CAD design for your project we can do all the heavy lifting for you in terms of getting an accurate quote for mass production.

It’s also important to factor in economies of scale, which can be hard to understand and predict if you’re not doing this all day every day. Although more relevant for smaller production runs, the cost of the CAD design also needs to be factored into the overall per unit price, by dividing the cost for the design by the number of units you are planning to produce. This is also true for any prototyping costs as we’ll see in the next section.

Prototyping and Costs

The first step of physically manufacturing a product that has only been available as a design in your head and then on the computer up until this point is prototyping. Prototyping is the process of making a sample of your product. Because prototypes are one-off samples, they cost more to produce than your unit price will when manufacturing in bulk, but they can save you untold amounts of money in the process.

Imagine for a moment if you went ahead with mass producing a part that had a critical structural fault in it. You may waste an entire production run, effectively doubling your per unit cost, as you would need to re-do the whole production run with the structural issue resolved. Prototypes allow you to uncover these sorts of issues early on in the process. It may seem like a waste of money to create one of more iterations of prototypes, but it can potentially save you a large amount in the long run.

Part of the prototyping cost can include having engineers review your prototype to tell you what’s working and what’s not so that you can make changes until it is perfect for full production. Remember that if you miss or forgo this step you might try and mass produce a product which is not physically sound, viable or fit for purpose.

Formula For Estimating the Cost Per Unit When Producing Items in Bulk

Whether you want to make 10 mugs or 10,000 engine parts, to calculate the total manufacturing cost, you must know how much it costs to make one unit. Total cost is calculated by adding all the resources required to make one finished unit including materials, labor charges and overheads, minus discounts that can be applied for economies of scale.

To keep it simple for now however, the basic formula assuming no discounts for large scale production is:

Materials (for prototypes and the finished product itself) + labor (CAD design, wages for factory staff) + overheads (factory rent, equipment purchase and upkeep etc.) = Total manufacturing cost

What Do Material Costs For Production Include?

Direct materials are basically the cost of the inventory, eg. the raw materials used in the manufacturing process minus any materials leftover at the end if they can be re-used in other production processes.

For example, if you spend $10 for the inventory and you are left with $2 worth of excess material at the end of the process that can be re-used or sold back to the factory your unit cost for materials is: $8

What Labor Costs Are Involved in Manufacturing a Product?

Then there is direct labor cost which is this instance are the wages and payroll taxes of the people running the factory where your product is made, the CAD designers who design your product, the project manager who makes all the moving parts work together etc. This may be worked out at a daily or hourly rate depending on the kind of labor you employ. In that case, you also need to calculate units made per hour or day.

What Are Manufacturing Overhead / Indirect Costs?

Finally, there will be overhead costs which are over and above what you need to produce the product. Things like factory rent, maintenance, depreciation of equipment, etc. all fall in this category. Sometimes, these are also referred to as indirect costs.

With their powers combined…

All of these factors combine to calculate your total cost per unit, and will be factored together into a cost when getting an estimate on your project from a manufacturer. If the estimated cost is beyond your budget, there are ways to reduce your unit cost including for example:

• Using cheaper materials or getting creative with production waste
• Increasing the unit quantity. Efficiencies of scale generally mean that the more units you buy the less each of them cost
• Making use of cost of living differences to choose where you manufacture. Manufacturing in China for instance is much cheaper than manufacturing locally (but can still be the same quality)

Wrapping Up

If all of the above information seems overwhelming and makes you want to give up, don’t!

If you’d like a ballpark figure of how much your project is likely to cost, give us a call on or fill out our quote request form and we’ll get back to you asap. We can even explain the process and how all the costing is worked out if you’d like.

We look forward to speaking with you!

Further reading: What manufacturing industry types are there?

Jason Vander Griendt

Jason Vander Griendt is a Mechanical Engineering Technician with years of experience working at major companies such as SNC Lavalin Inc, Hatch Ltd. Siemens and Gerdau Ameristeel. He is the CEO of JCAD – Inc., a company he started in 2006 after seeing a gap in the market for businesses who could assist clients through the entire product design and manufacturing process.

Jason has been featured in Forbes, has had his businesses analyzed and discussed in multiple start-up books, was a previous winner of the Notable8 Digital Innovator of the year award, and is a regular guest on business panels and podcasts. Email Jason at jason@jcadusa.com or follow him on LinkedIn.

The post How to Estimate the Cost of Manufacturing a Product Using a Per Unit Formula appeared first on J-CAD Inc. 1.888.202.2052.

3D scanning is the process of taking a physical object and using one of several ways to turn that physical object into a three dimensional representation of it that can be manipulated in computer programs such as CAD software, or can be used for taking accurate measurements without having to do them all manually.

3D scanning has been around since 1960s, and there are different ways that 3D scanning can be accomplished, using lights or lazers for example. Up until recently however this process has been very costly and required specialized equipment that was usually static and could easily run into the tens of thousands of dollars. This has meant it has been prohibitive for most people, unless they were willing to pay for a 3D scanning service.

The type of 3D scanning we’re going to talk about today however is called photogrammetry. Essentially the way photogrammetry works is that you use a camera to take lots of photographs of a static object from many different angles. These photos are then stitched together in 3D scanning software to create a 3D model.

While this sounds complicated, with the rise of high quality smartphone cameras and 3D scanning smartphone apps, with a bit of practice and a relatively new smartphone almost anyone can start 3D scanning!

Why would you want to 3D scan something with your phone?

Apart from the inherent novelty value of making cool 3D scans with something you can carry in your pocket, there are a lot of different uses for personal 3D scanning. Some people use 3D scanning to make realistic representations of themselves to use for avatars in 3D worlds. Others use 3D scanning to make house plans or take measurements that would be much more tedious to do manually.

What we’re really interested in though is the potential to use 3D scanning technologies for 3D printing applications, and to streamline the process of reverse engineering and prototyping products.

3D printing uses

The possibilities for creating 3D models ready for printing using smartphone 3D scanning are almost endless.

For example:

• This article explains a great way to use 3d scanning to create a CAD file of a unique architectural feature a couple wanted to incorporate into their new house.
• Ever wanted your own action figure? Get a friend to scan yourself and 3d print the model. This can be a quicker and easier option than using a photograph for 3D character modelling.
• Want to create realistic model scenery for a railway set or props for a miniature wargame? You could scan an old, abandoned railway station and then 3D print a miniature version.
• Really like a particular statue or ancient monument at a museum? 3D scan it so you can remember it for posterity, or to 3D print a replica for your living area. If you want to go down the rabbit hole in this regard, read this paper on 3D scanning for museums and cultural heritage applications.

You’re basically only limited by your imagination. If you don’t have a 3D printer or the skills to clean up the file for printing that’s no problem at all, we can help!

3D scanning application: Check out how to use 3D scanning to create 3D printed chess pieces!

Reverse engineering uses

Not too long ago we were approached by the Ritz Carlton to create protective casings for a model cruise liner, because it had previously been damaged in transport, was expensive to fix, and they didn’t want to have that issue again in the future! This project used 3D scanning to create a 3D file for the model which we were able to use in negative to create protective foam sidings.

There are many similar reverse engineering uses for 3D scanning. Imagine that you work restoring old cars or furniture, where the parts you need are no longer available to purchase from anywhere. If you are able to scan the parts, you can then manufacture more of the parts on your own for any future restorations. It can even be used for one off pieces, for example cloning a missing part which is mirrored on both sides of an object.

You could even scan an object that you want to make an addition to – say for example a pot holder for a specific type or brand of pot – cutting out the guesswork and accurate measurements of the product that would be required if you were going to prototype your product idea from scratch.

Prototyping uses

For simple parts and products, all we need to get started with designing and prototyping your product is a sketch with some dimensions.

If you are working on a more complex project however, and like to begin with manual prototypes from cardboard, foam or other similar building materials, 3D scanning can be a great help. Make your physical prototype, and once you’re happy with it, then it can be scanned and turned it into a 3D CAD file ready for refining and 3D printing as a prototype, and then eventually for manufacturing.

How do you get started 3D scanning with a smartphone?

This isn’t a tutorial on 3D scanning with a smartphone – there are plenty of those online already, and once you download an app you can simply learn through experimentation with the software. But to get started it might be helpful to know where to look.

Some phones are starting to build 3D scanning technology into their operating systems. For example check out this promo for the Samsung Galaxy Note 10’s 3D scanning capabilities:

3D scanning software also comes as standard with Sony’s latest Xperia models.

There are also many standalone smartphone apps for 3D scanning available. Most of these come with a small fee, but the amount you’ll pay for the app is nothing compared to the cost of a complete photogrammetry set up (which can require many high quality cameras) or the use of professional 3D scanning services.

Here is a good example walkthrough of how to use a free 3D scanning app with your smartphone:

What to do once you have your 3D scan

Send it to us! Because your 3D scan, while good, may not be up to professional standards, it may need to be cleaned up if you want to use it to 3D print.

If you’re using 3d scanning to reverse engineer a part or to prototype a product, we can use that as a starting point to finalize your CAD drawings, and then to begin manufacturing your product.

Of course if all this seems like too much hassle for you, we can help you with all parts of the process. In most cases all we need to get started is a rough sketch with some dimensions on the back of a napkin or envelope

If you’d like to get a quote, give us a call on , get in touch with us through our live chat, or send us more info about your project through our quote form. We look forward to hearing from you!

Jason Vander Griendt

Jason Vander Griendt is a Mechanical Engineering Technician with years of experience working at major companies such as SNC Lavalin Inc, Hatch Ltd. Siemens and Gerdau Ameristeel. He is the CEO of JCAD – Inc., a company he started in 2006 after seeing a gap in the market for businesses who could assist clients through the entire product design and manufacturing process.

Jason has been featured in Forbes, has had his businesses analyzed and discussed in multiple start-up books, was a previous winner of the Notable8 Digital Innovator of the year award, and is a regular guest on business panels and podcasts. Email Jason at jason@jcadusa.com or follow him on LinkedIn.

The post Easy 3D Scanning With a Smartphone For Reverse Engineering, Prototyping Products and 3D Printing appeared first on J-CAD Inc. 1.888.202.2052.

Rapid prototyping quickly develops prototypes or new models that can be used for testing design features, concepts, and performance.  Prototypes can be printed on a range of materials including acrylic plastic, ABS plastic, and flexible rubber. They can be made to look and feel like the real product for field testing before manufacturing on a larger scale.

Let’s take a look at some of the major advantages of rapid prototyping:

Customized Prototypes

What if I told you that you could get customized products that completely meet your needs? Well, it’s true. Rapid prototyping allows you to factor in each customer’s requirements to create a customized product. That’s a win-win situation: a one-of-a-kind item that won’t hurt your pocket and can be sold at a premium, as there’s nothing else like it in the world!

Reduced Costs

Enjoy significant reductions in your marketing budget.  Since customers get to have a say in the design of the prototype, you don’t need to focus on heavy advertising. Instead, you build your audience at the same time as building your product, in a Kickstarter-esque type model. Therefore, you minimize your advertising costs and can pass on these savings to your customers (or just keep some extra profit to invest back into your business or next holiday).

Increased Profits

Rapid prototyping doesn’t require new tools for each product, which means no new specialized equipment purchases are required.  Also, you will require less manpower because the processes to produce prototypes are largely automated. These manufacturing cost reductions will eventually increase your profits.

Increased Purchases

A design, photo or video of a product can be deceptive.  Customers may want to touch and feel a prototype and have a closer look to ensure the product meets their needs.  Prototypes allow that tactile interaction with the product. This is great for buy-in, especially from investors, but prototypes can also be used for marketing purposes at tradeshows, festivals, etc. to increase interest and therefore purchases down the line.

Immediate Feedback

Rapid prototyping allows you to get hands-on feedback with the prototype during each stage of production. You’ll get to see and touch a replica of your finished product, and give feedback to the designer. He will then make alterations or incorporate new features to create the perfect final product. Imagine how different this is to just having a computer mock-up of a product and trying to see if there are design flaws in it.

Increased Market Visibility

In order to compete in the global market, companies need to have designs and prototypes readily available. Your ideas need to be more appealing and produced faster than your competitors’.  Another advantage of the rapid prototyping process is that it allows you to create complex designs and produce models that may have been difficult to produce using conventional prototyping, and to create them very quickly. The quicker you can prototype and finalize your product, the quicker you can mass produce it and get the final to market. Being early to market can mean the difference between thriving and bankruptcy, so this is important.

Create More Complex Products With Less Hassle

Rapid prototyping facilitates the production of more realistic and complex products.  In intricate situations, you can try out an idea or test an incomplete solution.  Even the airline industry uses vital complex parts that are produced using rapid prototyping to run tests before going into wider production. 

Rapid prototyping is increasingly being used in various industries as it satisfies the needs of many companies.  You can turn intricate designs into prototypes that can easily be modified. You can also boost customer satisfaction by delivering customized products quickly and at affordable prices.

With so many great benefits, rapid prototyping is the way to go. So, what are you waiting for? To take advantage of this amazing technology give us a call on 1-888-202-2052 or email jason@jcadusa.com!

Jason Vander Griendt

Jason Vander Griendt is a Mechanical Engineering Technician with years of experience working at major companies such as SNC Lavalin Inc, Hatch Ltd. Siemens and Gerdau Ameristeel. He is the CEO of JCAD – Inc., a company he started in 2006 after seeing a gap in the market for businesses who could assist clients through the entire product design and manufacturing process.

Jason has been featured in Forbes, has had his businesses analyzed and discussed in multiple start-up books, was a previous winner of the Notable8 Digital Innovator of the year award, and is a regular guest on business panels and podcasts. Email Jason at jason@jcadusa.com or follow him on LinkedIn.

The post Advantages & Benefits of Rapid Prototyping appeared first on J-CAD Inc. 1.888.202.2052.

Rapid prototyping, also called three-dimensional impression, helps companies grow ideas into unique products.  Its design and engineering process allows you to be innovative and creative. You can design and fabricate parts using 3D printing techniques.

The construction of the prototype involves “additive manufacturing” i.e. placing multiple layers of materials in distinctive shapes.  Prototypes allow you to bring a customer’s idea to fruition ahead of the competitors and keep you in the global market.  The steps involved are distinct and should be followed to help meet your customer’s needs.

1. Identify your customer’s requirements

Know your customers and understand exactly what they need.  Sometimes you may have to take your customer’s ideas and develop them. After discussions with a customer, determine if you can develop the perfect product for them.

2. Set a plan of action

Determine all the inputs: tools, equipment and rapid prototyping machinery required for the process.   Ensure both CAD and all other necessary software are available. Get your team to understand the process and set a logical plan of action.  Take into consideration time limits and availability of resources.

3. Provide a prototype

You can develop an initial prototype using the code and the application user interface.  The prototype usually looks and works like the final product.

4. Get feedback

Once you are satisfied with the prototype, show it to your customer to examine it and give you feedback.  Customers’ findings should be taken into consideration before improvements are made.

5. Improve prototype code

Your customer’s feedback drives the improvements to be made.  The customer may ask for additions to improve the usefulness of the product, or they may have identified a feature that should be omitted. The prototype code helps in developing the actual system.

6. Convert prototype code to actual code

The actual code used is different from the prototype user interface code and therefore you need to again obtain feedback from your customer.   The programmers will then code the prototype user interface and if the customer is pleased with the user interface, prepare for your final product development.

7. Get further feedback

Constant feedback is necessary in order to make vital changes and save time before you produce the final product.  Once the final feedback is positive you have the green light to produce the final prototype. This will be the actual product.

8. Improve final code

The actual code is refined and the cycle is repeated for accuracy.  And best of all, you can document and store the software for future use.

9. Release product

You are now ready to deliver a great 3D printed product that will sell very well and that is sure to put a smile on your customer’s face.

Rapid prototyping will help you design products in a short time and will open new opportunities for complex projects. Plus, with each unique step in the process, you can develop extraordinary products.

Ready to experience some out-of-the-box designs? Then, rapid prototyping has got you covered! Call us 1-888-202-2052 or email jason@jcadusa.com

Jason Vander Griendt

Jason Vander Griendt is a Mechanical Engineering Technician with years of experience working at major companies such as SNC Lavalin Inc, Hatch Ltd. Siemens and Gerdau Ameristeel. He is the CEO of JCAD – Inc., a company he started in 2006 after seeing a gap in the market for businesses who could assist clients through the entire product design and manufacturing process.

Jason has been featured in Forbes, has had his businesses analyzed and discussed in multiple start-up books, was a previous winner of the Notable8 Digital Innovator of the year award, and is a regular guest on business panels and podcasts. Email Jason at jason@jcadusa.com or follow him on LinkedIn.

The post Rapid Prototyping Methodology / Process Steps appeared first on J-CAD Inc. 1.888.202.2052.

If you answered yes to that question, then this article is for you. Today we will be discussing some of the processes involved in getting your favorite products onto the shelf, and eventually, into your home.

A few examples of this process are:

• A period of design
• A prototyping period
• A production period

We are going to be discussing the prototyping stage in this article. Prototyping is the first step in turning an idea into reality. And as with most creative professions, there is a process that is unilaterally followed beforehand.

During the journey to a developer’s success story, he/she must first go through some precautions to make sure that the product planned is going to be functional and that potential customers will easily be able to figure out what the product is meant to be used for. A prototype can also provide several beneficial pieces of information including, but not limited to:

• Functionality testing
• Material performance
• A better product description
• Increase in your product’s value and worth

When a prototype reaches the testing period the product designer/developers are looking for potential issues. Those issues range anywhere from design flaws to ease of use, and if you’re a product designer you probably know that those are two very important aspects of a successful product release. They say time is money, and this is especially true with bringing new products to market. Prototyping can save many hours of wasted time and money, and help you get your product to market before someone else thinks of, and possibly releases something similar themselves.

Being the first to successfully bring a product to market can have many benefits, such as:

• Customers are more likely to choose you over a “me-too” competitor
• Stronger brand loyalties; and
• You’ll simply make more money!

But what does it actually mean to prototype a product?

Well, in layman’s terms, prototyping is the testing period where an initial short-run concept for a final product is created, to see if it is ready to go to the manufacturing stage and ready to be released to the general public without any bugs, defects, or design flaws. During that period of time, the product’s entire design and concept are being scrutinized for even the smallest of issues that could potentially cause issues in release and cost the developer a lot of time and money to fix, not to mention possible loss of credibility if the product goes to market too soon and is not fit for purpose.

I want you to imagine for a moment that you put your heart and soul into something, spending hundreds of hours of sleep deprivation, sweat and tears developing and molding your “baby” only to discover after the release that there are several harmful bugs that totally destroy user experience. Right there you just lost some serious feedback and possibly the public’s faith in you, and any future projects you may be pursuing. That right there is exactly what product prototype testing is for, and without it, there is sure to be more than just one problem with your release and sales.

In summary, if you are currently designing a product don’t forget to run it through appropriate testing and prototyping before its release. Creating a prototype is surprisingly cheap, making it practically a must-do for any intelligent product designer. Bringing your product to life can be a beautiful — and painless! — experience if you take just a few precautions like this that will make it run smoothly!

For more information on bringing your product idea to life, email JCAD’s CEO Jason at jason@jcadusa.com or call .

Jason Vander Griendt

Jason Vander Griendt is a Mechanical Engineering Technician with years of experience working at major companies such as SNC Lavalin Inc, Hatch Ltd. Siemens and Gerdau Ameristeel. He is the CEO of JCAD – Inc., a company he started in 2006 after seeing a gap in the market for businesses who could assist clients through the entire product design and manufacturing process.

Jason has been featured in Forbes, has had his businesses analyzed and discussed in multiple start-up books, was a previous winner of the Notable8 Digital Innovator of the year award, and is a regular guest on business panels and podcasts. Email Jason at jason@jcadusa.com or follow him on LinkedIn.

The post What is Product Prototype Testing? appeared first on J-CAD Inc. 1.888.202.2052.

For example, the hit TV show Shark Tank is now accepting applicants to come on the show and present their product ideas!

If you think your idea is TV worthy and you’re up to the challenge of presenting it to these world-renowned investors, you and your idea have the potential to really take off with the TV exposure and backing from these icons in the business world!

How do I register to be on Shark Tank?

CLICK HERE to register with the show! We have worked in the product design and development industry for over 10 years, and have a good sense of what will make it in the market, and how to frame your ideas to have the maximum impact. So get in touch if you need help with what to say or what to send them.

If your product is just in the design phase you might need help getting your product ready to be on TV. If so, J – CAD Inc. can help you with the design and prototyping of your product so you have something to show the Sharks and really impress them! We offer CAD Design, 3D printing and 3D scanning services allowing you to easily and cost-effectively prototype your design. We also offer a virtual reality service that allows your 3d renderings to be turned into interactive virtual environments that anyone with a VR headset can actively participate in. Imagine wowing the judges by being the first to present your idea in physical form and in virtual reality!

Not ready to be on Shark Tank? No problem.

If you’d like J – CAD Inc. to help you develop your idea just let us know and we’ll be glad to help you out based on our years of product development experience!

We can also help you raise capital without the Sharks by using crowdfunding!

How does Crowdfunding work?

Crowdfunding is a fairly new online technology that allows anyone in the world to post an idea they have (a virtual reality headset, a boardgame, a new type of shoe, the options are limitless) and ask for a target of capitol required to help them launch their business which can be anywhere from $100 to $100 million.

Users and investors of these crowdfunding websites can browse all of the ideas people post and decide if they want to become part of an idea by donating cash towards the posters target capitol goal.

There are 3 ways to donate to an idea:

1. donate money
2. donate money and become a shareholder of the company raising capitol
3. donate money and get a reward from the company raising capitol (for example a free t-shirt with the company’s logo that says “I helped fund company X on Kickstarter 2016!” or pre-launch version of the product being created).

CLICK HERE to learn more about how J – CAD Inc. can help you raise your funding goal!

Want to learn more about the 3D printing and design process?

Recently Jason, the CEO of J – CAD Inc. was asked to be a guest on one of the biggest 3D printing podcasts in the world, 3DMasterminds.

They asked if he could quickly explain the 3D design & 3D printing process so that the average person could understand it.

Hear Jason discuss interesting areas of 3D design & 3D printing and how the industry is unfolding and growing rapidly.

The podcast covers some great topics and interesting points about how anyone, from the average person to large corporation can go from idea to reality!

Click the image below or CLICK HERE to listen to the podcast and learn about the fastest growing industry in the world!

P.S. Call us 1.888.202.2052 to discuss your prototype project and ask us how we can take your idea and turn it into reality!

P.P.S. CLICK HERE to learn about how we can design your project in Virtual Reality!

In this podcast you will learn:

• How Jason got started with 3D printing in 2006 in Toronto, CA by transitioning from design work to 3D prototyping work based on feedback from his customers.
• Incorporating outsourced 3D design work into part of J-CAD’s business practices.
• Manufacturing in China for injection molding, manufacturing, design and production to cut costs from present-day 3D prototyping.
• The challenges of learning the 3D printing fundamentals and teaching it to others.
• The frustrations of people who have an idea, but struggle in finding ways to get it made. Oftentimes it takes hundreds of hours just to learn how to design properly, much less learn to 3D print.
• Challenges behind creating things for people for the first time.
• Experience with designers from all over the world who have worked with J-CAD.
• The importance of trust when designing, building and mass producing for others.
• The potential of mass production with 3D printing in our homes.
• Thoughts on new renewable and sustainable materials being made for 3D printing applications.
• Lessons learned in creating J-CAD and providing a service that creates things for others.
• The difficulty in learning 3D design software, especially with the complications of options out there.
• Designing parts for Virtual Reality and how similar the process is to designing for 3D printing.
• The benefits of being able to visualize what a person is making through Virtual Reality before actually 3D Printing it, saving hours of time.
• Exactly how hands-on Jason is with the design process and customer service.

J – CAD Inc. has been featured in the following media outlets:

Jason Vander Griendt

Jason Vander Griendt is a Mechanical Engineering Technician with years of experience working at major companies such as SNC Lavalin Inc, Hatch Ltd. Siemens and Gerdau Ameristeel. He is the CEO of JCAD – Inc., a company he started in 2006 after seeing a gap in the market for businesses who could assist clients through the entire product design and manufacturing process.

Jason has been featured in Forbes, has had his businesses analyzed and discussed in multiple start-up books, was a previous winner of the Notable8 Digital Innovator of the year award, and is a regular guest on business panels and podcasts. Email Jason at jason@jcadusa.com or follow him on LinkedIn.

The post Want to be on Shark Tank? Here’s How to Get Your Idea on TV appeared first on J-CAD Inc. 1.888.202.2052.

A prototype is an initial conceptual model of your design, part or product, that allows the designer, manufacturer and investors to get a feel for the end product before it is mass produced. Whether you’re creating a complex electronic product or something more simple building a prototype is a vital step in the production process. Without producing a prototype before mass production it is much harder to know the strengths and weaknesses of your design. A prototyped model of your idea allows you to get client feedback and fine-tune your design. It is also much easier to conduct market research, begin discussions with advertisers and sponsors and to source preliminary product reviews when you have a prototype model to show.

How to build or create a prototype

So you may be wondering how to get a prototype made (eg. for Kickstarter). If you were to try and create your own prototype there are a number of factors to consider, not to mention the time and cost involved. These include;

• Do you have the skill to create your own prototype?
• Can you source the required materials (eg. will you have to buy other products to get parts from, or do you have the materials with which they can be constructed)
• Can you create an accurate prototype?
• Will the materials you use function and respond in the same way as the materials to be used in the final product?
• Will other people be able to accurately reproduce the prototype from the plans you have?

While some people do try to produce their own prototypes (often these are hobbyist inventors more focussed on inventing as a passion than a business) many innovators are increasingly leaning towards getting professional help to make their prototypes.

Hiring a professional 3D design firm for your rapid prototyping needs can accomplish maximum results with minimum hassle on the part of the innovator himself/herself. Outsourcing your prototyping simplifies the process and ensures professional reproducible results. What is rapid prototyping? Learn more about it here.

Some benefits of outsourcing your prototyping work to a professional firm are as follows:

Cost-effectiveness

When you outsource to a professional firm, you are letting them take the hassle out of preparing the components required for the prototype to be manufactured. That spares you from spending the time, energy and expenses involved with procuring items and materials. You will also save many hours of your own time (time is money as they say), allowing you to keep developing your business or working on money-making activities such as attracting sponsors, investors or clients. This makes outsourcing much more cost effective in the long run than making your own DIY prototype.

Swift Execution

Professional 3d design and prototyping firms are operated by experienced product developers who are adept at their jobs. Putting our years of experience to work for you, along with knowing the perfect contacts around the world to do your job just right cuts out the trial and error of finding the right supplier. Because we also have access to more powerful commercial-grade equipment, you can expect high quality results, and faster than you could get anywhere else. Even our job quotes are fast – contact us and we’ll get back to you with a quote in 5 – 10 minutes!

Professional Touch

If you’re planning to impress investors, sponsors or advertisers with your prototype, it needs to be flawless in design, look and feel. Most innovators, despite having great ideas aren’t too experienced with the nitty-gritty details involved in the production of a prototype for their innovations. For them, a professional 3d design and product development firm is a great option to add a professional touch to their inventions.

Here at JCAD we live and breath product development, cad design, 3d printing and prototyping and mass manufacturing. Talk to us today about how we can take your ideas from concept to reality!

See also: How to design your own cellphone cover for 3D printing

Jason Vander Griendt

Jason Vander Griendt is a Mechanical Engineering Technician with years of experience working at major companies such as SNC Lavalin Inc, Hatch Ltd. Siemens and Gerdau Ameristeel. He is the CEO of JCAD – Inc., a company he started in 2006 after seeing a gap in the market for businesses who could assist clients through the entire product design and manufacturing process.

Jason has been featured in Forbes, has had his businesses analyzed and discussed in multiple start-up books, was a previous winner of the Notable8 Digital Innovator of the year award, and is a regular guest on business panels and podcasts. Email Jason at jason@jcadusa.com or follow him on LinkedIn.

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