As a western customer, you may usually be suggested to get a quote from Chinese prototypers for your plastic prototypes using 3D printing (SLA, SLS) or DMLS for your metal parts. 3D printing is the advanced new technology for fast, complex shapes prototypes. Once you send your 3D CAD data, they can make your parts overnight without compromising on designs as this process has no limits on complex features. Its advantage is fast! Compared to conventional manufacturing process, it has greatly shortened the lead time for prototype testing for designers and is really helpful for artists. Some of the Art works are in very abstract shapes, so 3D Printing can "print out" whatever it is.

Now you may think we can produce anything we want by 3D Printing. Well, the answer is "No". It seems for 3D Printing there's no limits but actually there is. For some large parts, we can not use 3D Printing as the 3D Printer we have now is not big enough. For some materials you require, they are still not available for 3D Printing. You can only have simulant materials for your intended purpose, in other words you are getting "ABS simulant" fromSLA, "Nylon simulant" from SLS, "Aluminum 6061" or "stainless steel 304" similar from DMLS. These similar materials are not good for your test to see how the parts will work as production parts, because their properties and characteristics are far away from real materials. Also, when your parts are heavy then the price for 3D Printing is very high.   

Next Proto is a leading rapid prototyping company in China offers high quality and reasonable price 3D printing. We have plenty of 3D printing centers which can make sure you have your parts fast and cheap. If you want to know more about our 3D printing or other rapid prototyping technology, please visit www.nextproto.com.