Rapid Aluminum Tooling Prototype Design Flow

Unlimited rapid Prototype's need a streamlined design to production process flow. We noticed that more and more the customer had to accept so many limitations to create a plastic prototype. Which seems to negate the reason behind making a prototype in the first place. A plastic prototype is for testing your design before production capable tools are made. If your initial design is so limited, what are you going to learn from it to ease the transition into production parts? We have seen results from not learning from the prototype.

A plastic prototype project can go from a smooth launch to multiple frantic fire drills to correct issues that should have been found in prototype testing. Why? Because often the plastic production part is far more complicated in design than the prototype part. Where is the cost savings in the wasted man hours and production delays which increase exponentially therefore making that "discount" cookie cutter part not such an attractive deal in the long run.

Our express process is based upon planning, communication and execution. We've studied the various ways to eliminate the waste that holds up the flow of a project enabling us to operate as efficiently as possible. Efficiency directly translates into time and cost savings.

Pro-Active engineering design support (if needed) - begins the INSTANT the order is received by PHOENIX PROTO. Our designers have 45 years of practical experience in traditional mold making and rapid prototyping. That experience is an added benefit to our customers. Gate Type and Location, Parting Line, Draft, Ejection, Critical Dimensions, Tolerances, Surfaces all matter when it comes time for production. When creating a prototype these and other important considerations are often over looked due to other rapid prototype shop's limitations and "too low to refuse" costs. Time and time again we get dissatisfied customers who realized too late that a "low" cost often results in higher costs at production time.