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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS • What is rapid prototyping?
What is rapid prototyping? Rapid prototyping (RP) technologies fabricate physical objects directly from CAD data, one layer at a time, by an additive process that bonds the layers together. Other names used for this process include solid freeform fabrication and layered manufacturing. The various systems that are available offer a variety of material, and the ability to directly fabricate very complex geometries that would be impossible with CNC or any other method. What types of rapid prototyping exist? Commercial systems include stereolithography (SLA ), selective laser sintering (SLS), fused deposition modeling (FDM), PolyJet (inkjet-based), three dimensional printing (3DP). How long have you been in business? InterPRO has been in operation since 1996. However our experience with rapid prototyping began in 1988. How do I get a quote? You can get an instant online quote and place your order anytime - just use InterPRO Online. You can email us your file(s) at services@interpro-rtc.com. You can FTP your file(s) to us at ftp.wx.registeredsite.com (username: "incoming"; password: "incoming"). Please follow up with a phone call or email to let us know your files are ready. What file types can I send you? For an instant online quote, we prefer an STL file. Otherwise, we can read your SolidWorks, IGES, STEP, DXF, or DWG files. How long will it take for me to receive a quote? Your online instant quote takes seconds. Otherwise, no more than a couple of hours if you email us your data. Same-day quotes are our rule. How long will it take for you to ship my order? RP models are usually shipped 2-3 days after you place your order. Next day shipping is an option, if we receive your order early enough in the day. If you need a same-day shipment, we might be able to get that done as well. How do I register for instant online quotes? Go to InterPRO Online - if you're a first time user just supply your shipping and billing information, choose a username and password and you're ready to go. We don't ask for your credit card information online. We will call and speak with you directly for that. What do you do with my personal information? We keep your information private. No one will ever see your email address but InterPRO. Your credit card data is securely kept in a password protected location, off line. If you need us to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement, we will be happy to. However, your information is NEVER shared. What payment options are available? VISA, Amex, MasterCard and/or purchase orders are accepted. Payment terms are net 30. What processes are available for instant online quotes? StereoLithography (SLA), Objet PolyJet and Selection Laser Sintering (SLS) Do I have a choice of finishing options? Yes, from basic support removal up through high-quality mold master finish with online quotes. For "show" models with full painting and graphics, we should discuss your project in person. What if I have a question or special request for how I'd like you to process my online order? You can provide that information to us on the quote form. We'll respond promptly and discuss it with you in person. Can I use my shipping account? Yes. Just supply that information in the special instruction field. What happens after I place my online order? You'll receive an email immediately confirming your order. We will also follow up by phone. Do you ship outside of the US? Yes, all the time. Can you make parts with snap-fits? Flexible parts? High-temperature resistant parts? Yes. We will advise you on the best RP technology to use for these and other material or aesthetic requirements. An alternative approach is to use cast urethane technology, which creates plastic or epoxy prototypes with the properties of engineering plastics. What if I need my part to be transparent? We can add clear coat paint to an SLA model that makes it almost as transparent as glass. Please see our gallery for an example. What is my part is hollow? We'll advise you on the best approach to take, considering whether support structures will need to be removed from the inside area. This may include splitting the piece into sections. What do you recommend for bonding parts? We use a light-activated version of iso-cyanate ("Crazy Glue"). Crazy-Glue or 5-minute epoxy usually works very well if you're doing the job yourself. What do you recommend for painting prototype parts? InterPRO uses high-quality 2-part urethane paints and clear coats to color and to add texture. If you prefer to paint your parts, almost any spray paint can produce good results if you first apply a smooth layer of primer. Krylon's "Fusion" line of paints can be painted directly on plastic. How large a part can you make? Unlimited if we build it in sections. The largest sized part we can build in one piece is 20x20x24 inches. What is the smallest feature you can produce with rapid prototyping? With the Objet PolyJet process, the layers are 0.0006" in Z. Vertical features of 0.001 tall can be produced. The X/Y resolution of PolyJet is 600 by 600 DPI. With SLA, the layers can be as thin as 0.002". However most SLA models are built at 0.006" layers. The SLA laser beam is 0.010" in diameter, so features (vertical walls, posts) are limited to about 0.012 thickness minimum. Can you work from a sketch or a 2-D file? If you don't have a 3D file, we can convert your design information to the 3D format needed to produce an RP model. Why should I consider RTV molding and cast urethane prototypes? If you need more than five prototypes, it might be a good idea based on cost alone compared to using RP. However, the advantages of cast urethanes are many. If your products need to withstand higher temperature, or if they are elastomeric, or if they need to be especially strong, this is a very good option to consider. How many parts can you make from an RTV mold? The average is about 20 parts. It may be less, or it could be many more. Some of our rubber molds have yielded over 80 parts before being retired. How long will it take to get cast urethane prototypes? About 7 to 10 working days on average. However, we often produce cast urethane parts less than 5 days after receiving your order. |
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