Plastic prototype nneded

gibo_ie

Hi all,
Has anyone any experience getting a plastic prototype made in Ireland please? Looking to get a single piece made, has to be strong so not sure if 3D printing will suffice. Not very intricate, two small hinged pieces on a larger square piece, approx 12 X 18 inches.
Looking for recommendations please rather than just google results.
Thanks,

A2LUE42

Where are you based?

3D printing is probably your best option, as a run of injection molding might be too costly.

gibo_ie

Thanks, In Dublin, don't mind travelling if necessary.
I just don't know how strong 3D printing can be, maybe stronger than i think?

RE*AC*TOR

gibo_ie wrote: »

Hi all,
Has anyone any experience getting a plastic prototype made in Ireland please? Looking to get a single piece made, has to be strong so not sure if 3D printing will suffice. Not very intricate, two small hinged pieces on a larger square piece, approx 12 X 18 inches.
Looking for recommendations please rather than just google results.
Thanks,

Laser Prototype up North would be the first to come to mind, would do a great job, but are very expensive. You would likely save quite a bit going to a Chinese prototyper.

12 x 18 inches would be stretching the size limits of most of the consumer grade 3d printers (though you could print it in pieces and glue back together). Depending on the design CNC might be more cost effective (from a larger block of plastic, or some other material)....

lucky john

there is a company in NI that make products by cutting and plastic welding Polypropylene. they use 6mm sheets. If you say the prototype is not intricate would that be an option for you?

ir555

sounds like maybe just the hinges need to be printed and the large square can be CNC'd / Milled from a blank of some sort.

don't worry about harness/ materials - there is not much they cannot mimic material wise these days.

try these guys in university of Limerick - have the latest equipment and are very helpful. may direct you to appropriate funding also to cover/subsidize costs.
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/3dprint-at-ul/a2/723/52b

guys up north are very good also but very expensive. http://www.laserproto.com/

hope this helps
D

caff

Havent used them but walk past every day, seem quite professional worth popping in for a chat with them http://hackett3d.com/services/rapid-prototyping-service/

Sh1tbag OToole

http://www.beta-prototypes.com/rpuk/index.html? Based in Shannon

tacofries

http://www.plastico.ie/about.html

Plastico in Mayo specialises in plastic fabrication so he can cut, welt, glue, bend etc.

Florins

CNC cutting from a plastic blank will give you the best results, materials like acetal, ABS, polycarbonate are easy, and accurate to cut, and will not break the bank, especially if you already have a 3D model in electronoc format. Try Strasmax in Dublin.

bgo1

Do you need a 3d Autocad drawing to approach the 3d companies or will most of them make up the drawings themselves for you (at a cost) that they then use to print the item (at a further cost)?

Florins

bgo1 wrote: »

Do you need a 3d Autocad drawing to approach the 3d companies or will most of them make up the drawings themselves for you (at a cost) that they then use to print the item (at a further cost)?

In most cases the 3D professional will be able to create the model even from a sketch, but depending on the exact details you can provide you might accelerate the delivery and reduce the cost.