Design for Manufacturabilty to meet your engineering needs on-demand
We help clients to innovate and develop new products from concept to manufacturing.
From simple shapes to complex parts, our engineering experts help you convert your new concept through (DFM) designed for manufacturability. This helps you to better evaluate your part form, fit, functionality, strength and materials required for advanced 3D prototyping, machining, tooling and manufacturing processes.
Our core engineering consulting services include:
- Industrial Design
- Mechanical Design
- Value Engineering
- Reverse Engineering
- Finite Element Analysis
Cutting-Edge Technology: Advanced 3D printing equipment – you benefit from cutting-edge 3D Printing options to fit your needs
Custom Made Solutions: Tailored to fit your specific prototype needs – you can confirm part form, fit and functionality verification
From One Part to Multiple Parts: Whatever quantity you need, we’ll fabricate them for you on-demand
Multiple Material Options: Variety of Plastic and Metal Prototype materials – superior quality and structural integrity at affordable prices
- Need help creating CAD Designs? – Click here!
- Have questions about DFM-Design for Manufacturing (Plastic / Metal Components)? – Click here!
- Have questions regarding CAD Design options? – Click here!
- Need help creating Patent Illustrations? – Click here!
- Need Industrial Design Concepts? – Click here!
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
We emphasize open collaboration and communications with clients to achieve the best possible version of your product idea while incorporating a combination of Industrial Design techniques. We help you create design solutions for concept generation, form development, product roadmap strategy, brand development, color/material/finish, product aesthetics, ergonomics, usability and improvement to products marketability and production.
MECHANICAL DESIGN
Products have higher success rates if designed right the first time. We utilize a structured approach integrating customer product development requirements with unique design for manufacturability engineering technologies. This results in products that are designed and fabricated “correctly and cost effectively” for both plastic and metal rapid part fabrication methods. Once the mechanical design is approved by the client, we can then fabricate a rapid prototype part for the client to use as a form, fit and functionality part. Once the prototype part has been verified by the client we can then provide full volume production parts in plastic or metal.
VALUE ENGINEERING
Value engineering is defined as “an analysis of the functions of a product or equipment directed at improving performance, reliability, quality, safety, and life cycle costs.” By using the methods of value engineering, our clients have realized 15 to 40% reduction in production costs thus leaving them a nice profit margin on their future product orders! Once the design has been revised in mechanical design format based on the value engineering results, we can then fabricate a rapid prototype part for the client to use as a form, fit and functionality part. Once the prototype part has been verified by the client we can then provide full volume production parts in plastic or metal.
REVERSE ENGINEERING
Reverse engineering often is required because the documentation of a particular device has been lost (or was never written, created or available). Reverse engineering is also technology to reverse-engineer an existing product and then re-design it. We use various types of reverse engineering tools and equipment to deliver fully dimensioned and surfaced CAD models to you in the file formats you desire.
FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS
Our engineers have extensive experience using FEA engineering software consisting of a computer model of a material or design that is stressed and analyzed for specific results. It is used in new product design, and existing product refinement. Using FEA, we are able to verify a proposed design to be able to perform to the client’s specifications prior to manufacturing or fabrication. Modifying an existing product or structure is utilized to qualify the product or structure for a new service condition. In case of structural failure, FEA may be used to help determine the design modifications to meet the new condition required for the product.
Once the design is revised based on the FEA results, can then fabricate a rapid prototype part for the client to use as a form, fit and functionality part. Once the prototype part has been verified by the client we can then go into full volume part production.
Advantages
Work with a trusted U.S.-based manufacturer with capacity and in-house finishing options for your parts. Call or email us at any time and we’ll help with ordering parts, design feedback, material recommendations, and answer any questions.
Why shop around for sheet metal fabrication services? We’ll provide a proposed revision—on qualifying parts—that can reduce your production cost while improving the manufacturability of your design by looking at material selection and finishes.
Maintain part quality and consistency with a single manufacturing supplier from start to finish. Choose from in-house hardware inserts, MIG/TIG welding, plating, powder coating, and silk screening options.
Need instant sheet metal quote updates and DFM tips as you design your sheet metal parts? eRapid, Protolabs’ free SOLIDWORKS add-in provides you with instant quoting and design feedback.
Our team of engineers can help you spot any part design issues or complex features before your design is sent to the manufacturing floor to save you from costly mistakes, reworks and precious time during the product development cycle.