Project Overview
A European industrial equipment manufacturer required a high-precision prototype to validate the design of a fluid connection component before investing in injection mold tooling.
The component featured:
- External threaded interface
- Internal threaded connection
- Multiple mounting holes
- Structural reinforcement ribs
- Complex internal geometry
The customer needed a prototype that could accurately replicate the final production design for assembly and functional testing.
Customer Challenges
Before committing to mold manufacturing, the customer wanted to verify several critical design elements:
Thread Compatibility
The external and internal threads needed to mate correctly with existing system components.
Assembly Verification
The mounting holes and structural interfaces had to align precisely with surrounding equipment.
Structural Evaluation
The reinforced rib design required validation to ensure sufficient mechanical strength.
Tooling Risk Reduction
Any design changes discovered after mold production would significantly increase development costs and delay the project schedule.
Our Solution
After reviewing the CAD files, our engineering team recommended SLA rapid prototyping due to its ability to achieve high dimensional accuracy and excellent surface quality.
Manufacturing Process
- Technology: SLA Rapid Prototyping
- Material: ABS-like Photopolymer Resin
- Layer Thickness: 0.05 mm
- Surface Finish: Sanded and cleaned
- Lead Time: 2 Days
The prototype was produced directly from the customer’s 3D CAD model with no tooling required.
Prototype Features
High-Precision Threaded Structure
The SLA process accurately reproduced both internal and external threads, allowing the customer to test:
- Thread engagement
- Assembly torque
- Component compatibility
before moving into production.
Excellent Surface Quality
The smooth surface finish allowed engineers to evaluate the overall appearance and structural details without additional machining.
Functional Geometry Verification
Critical design features including:
- Mounting holes
- Structural ribs
- Connection interfaces
- Wall thickness distribution
were fully validated through physical testing.
Results
After receiving the prototype, the customer completed assembly testing and identified two minor design optimizations.
Because the issues were discovered during the prototyping stage:
✓ Mold modification costs were avoided
✓ Product development time was shortened
✓ Design confidence increased before tooling investment
✓ Production risks were significantly reduced
The final design was approved and released for injection mold manufacturing.
Project Highlights
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Industry | Industrial Equipment |
| Process | SLA Rapid Prototyping |
| Material | ABS-like Resin |
| Lead Time | 3 Days |
| Application | Functional Verification |
| Features | Internal & External Threads |
| Purpose | Design Validation Before Tooling |
Why Customers Choose SLA Prototypes Before Tooling
For components with threaded structures, mounting features, and complex geometries, SLA prototyping provides a fast and cost-effective way to validate designs before investing in production molds.
Benefits include:
- High dimensional accuracy
- Fast turnaround
- Excellent surface finish
- Functional assembly verification
- Reduced development risk
Need a High-Precision SLA Prototype?
Upload your CAD files and receive a quotation within 24 hours.
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