Prototype 3D printing from your file, sketch or photo
Rapid Prototyping Manchester
Get a working prototype in your hands quickly, so you can test how it works, how it fits and how people respond to it before you commit to tooling.
- 5.0 from 35+ Google reviews
- Free, no-obligation quotes
- CAD from sketches or photos
- Sent across the UK
Rapid prototyping services
Rapid Prototyping Services in Manchester
Rapid prototyping uses 3D printing to make a physical part straight from its 3D CAD design, quickly and without the cost of tooling. It is one of the main services we provide at 3D Printing Manchester.
Holding a prototype tells you things a drawing can’t: whether the part fits, whether it works as intended and how customers react to it. Each prototype is printed directly from the design, so when something needs to change we update the file and print the next version.
We work with businesses, product developers and inventors. Many come to us at an early concept stage, sometimes before a patent, and we often work under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) so you can share your idea with peace of mind.
Choosing a material
Prototype 3D Printing
We choose the material to suit what your prototype has to prove.
PLA for quick concept models
Inexpensive and quick to print, so it suits early, economical design concepts. Available in 11 colours, including transparent.
ABS-M30 for tougher concepts
Stronger than standard ABS and smoother, so it shows finer feature detail. A good choice for concept modelling.
ASA for outdoor testing
Strong and UV resistant, which makes it a good choice for prototypes that will be used outdoors. Available in 10 colours.
Carbon-fibre composites
Strong, lightweight composite parts for high-performance prototypes that have to take real loads.
See the full range of plastics and composites we print in.
How it works
From Sketch to Working Prototype
You don’t need a CAD file to get started.
-
Send us what you have
A CAD or STL file (zipped), a 2D drawing, a hand sketch, or photos of an existing part next to a ruler.
-
We model it in CAD
If there is no 3D file, our designers draw one with exact dimensions, and you review it before anything is printed.
-
We print your prototype
A small, simple part can take around 30 minutes; a large or complex one can take several days.
-
Test it and refine it
Try the prototype, tell us what needs to change, and we update the design and print the next version.
Find out more about turning a sketch into a CAD model.
Generative design
Better Prototypes with Generative Design
Generative design software lets us explore many versions of a part by setting its requirements and goals, such as strength, weight, material and manufacturing method, rather than drawing every option by hand. It can make a part as strong as it needs to be while using less material.
That keeps costs down, because it roots out over-designed parts: designs that work, but use more material or more complex manufacturing than they need. We can also check a design with stress analysis before it is printed, so the prototype matches your requirements closely.
Manchester based, UK wide
Prototypes for Manchester and UK Businesses
Across the UK
Most of our customers are in Manchester, Greater Manchester and Lancashire. The work starts from a digital file, so we make prototypes for customers across the UK and send them out to you.
Larger prototypes
Single prints go up to roughly the size of a shoebox. Larger prototypes can often be printed in sections that fit together, and we will tell you whether that can work for your design.
From prototype to production
When the prototype is proven and you need larger numbers, we can take the design on to injection moulding for production runs.
Have an idea you want to test?
Send us your file, sketch or photos for a free prototype quote, or call us Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Questions
Rapid Prototyping FAQs
What is rapid prototyping?
Rapid prototyping is the quick fabrication of a physical part from a 3D CAD design. With 3D printing, the part is built up layer by layer straight from the file, so there is no tooling to make first and a new version can be printed as soon as the design changes.
What is the difference between additive and subtractive prototyping?
Subtractive prototyping removes material from a solid block, for example by machining, until the part is left. Additive prototyping, which is how 3D printing works, builds the part up layer by layer, using processes such as fused deposition modelling (FDM) and stereolithography.
Do I need a CAD file to get a prototype made?
No. Many customers start with a sketch, a 2D drawing or photos of an existing part. Our designers create the CAD model and you review it before it is printed.
We don’t use 3D scanners. When we trialled them, recreating the file ourselves proved more accurate and more cost-effective.
How long does a prototype take?
It depends on the size and complexity of the part. A small, simple plastic part can take around 30 minutes to print, while a larger item can take several days. Once we have reviewed your design, we can tell you how long yours will take.
How big can a prototype be?
Our commercial printers print items up to roughly the size of a shoebox in a single run. Larger items can often be printed in sections that fit together to make one piece. That doesn’t suit every design, so we will tell you whether it can work for yours.
Will you keep my idea confidential?
Yes. We often work with clients under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), so you can share your idea and move it forward without worrying about it being taken. We respect your intellectual property.
How do I send you my files?
Use the form on our contact page. The upload accepts .zip files but not .stl files on their own, so put your STL or CAD file in a zip folder first, then attach the zip.
Related services