Professional Rapid Prototyping Services
First Mold provides 3D printing prototping, rapid injection molding, rapid tooling making, CNC prototyping and vacuum casting service for global market.
- Extensive Manufacturing Options
- Fast 3-7 Days Turnaround
- Tight Tolerances to ±0.02mm
Main Rapid Prototyping Services At Firstmold
As an ISO 9001-certified manufacturing partner, First Mold has a wide variety of rapid prototyping processes. We can achieve stable production and excellent surface quality.
How to Choose Your Rapid Prototyping Process
| Process | Recommended Quantity | Typical Materials | Accuracy (±mm) | Lead Time | Advantages | Limitations | Recommended Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3D Printing | 1-5 pcs | Photosensitive Resin, Nylon, ABS-like Resin, etc. | 0.1 – 0.2 | 1 – 3 days | Fast speed, can create complex geometries | Limited material choices, lower strength | Visual validation, Concept models, Initial fit tests |
| CNC Machining | 1-20 pcs | Metals (Alu, Copper, Steel), Plastics (ABS, POM, PC) | 0.01 – 0.05 | 3 – 7 days | High precision, uses real materials, good strength | Limited internal complex structures, cost rises with complexity | Functional testing, Metal parts, High precision requirements |
| Rapid Tooling + Rapid IM | 100 – 1000 pcs | Standard Plastics (ABS, PP, PC, Nylon, etc.) | 0.1 – 0.3 | 7 – 15 days | Close to mass production process, real material testing | Limited mold life (hundreds to thousand shots), costly to modify | Pilot production, Market testing, Functional validation |
| Vacuum Casting | 10 – 50 pcs | Polyurethane (Simulates ABS, PP, Rubber) | 0.15 – 0.3 | 5 – 10 days | Low cost for small batches, feels like real molded parts | Short mold life (approx. 20-30 pcs), non-standard materials | Small batch appearance parts, Exhibition samples, Pre-trial use |
Rapid Prototyping Service Material Library
Over the past decade, First Mold has worked with its clients on more than 100 types of rapid prototyping materials.
Common Machinable Materials for Rapid Prototyping
Aluminum 6061
Stainless Steel 316L
Brass C360
Titanium Grade 5
Copper C110
Steel 1018
Need Detailed Material Specifications?
Download our comprehensive material datasheet with technical specifications, mechanical properties, and application guidelines for all 100+ engineering materials. Perfect for your design and engineering projects.
Premium Surface Finishes for Rapid Prototyping
Generally, the surface finish for our rapid prototype parts is selected based on the customer's requirements. If there are no special requests, we use the 'as machined' finish.
Polishing
The surface of the part transitions from rough to smooth and refined. For transparent materials, the clarity increases significantly after polishing.
Chemical Smoothing
This nearly eliminates visible layer lines, leaving a smooth surface with a natural luster. Surface roughness can be reduced by more than 80%.
Sandblasting
This removes tooling marks, resulting in a uniform, non-reflective matte finish or an even satin finish with a smooth, delicate texture.
Brushed Finish
This gives your metal prototype a surface with regular, fine lines (either straight or a random, swirling pattern) and also helps hide minor scratches.
Anodizing
This creates a protective layer that can be dyed in a wide variety of colors, available in either glossy or matte finishes.
Spray Painting
This covers the base color and surface imperfections, allowing you to achieve any color and various special textures, such as a leather-like texture or a soft-touch rubber-like feel.
Rapid Prototyping Solutions for Your Industry
Based on our customer data over the past decade, the top industries for our rapid prototyping services have been the automotive industry, consumer electronics, medical devices, aerospace, industrial equipment, cultural and creative products, and the construction industry.
Automotive Rapid Prototyping
Get functional parts before real-world road testing. Use aluminum 3D printing for turbocharger intake pipes, and rapid injection molding for air vents and door panel clips.
Prototyping for industrial tools
CNC machining and 3D printing of tooling fixtures, mechanical frames, equipment housings, etc., to verify equipment structure or tool functionality.
Aerospace Rapid Prototyping
Produce aerospace metal parts mainly with 5-axis CNC, or use specialized 3D printing for test samples of interior cabin components.
Our Rapid Prototyping Cases
Why Choose Us As Your Prototyping Supplier
Our goal has always been to have zero complaints from customers.
Proactive DFM Feedback
- You might worry about design flaws that could make manufacturing difficult, or that our factory might just start cutting right after receiving the drawings.
- We don't just hit "print" or "machine" blindly. Our engineers review your CAD files and provide actionable Design for Manufacturing (DFM) suggestions. We can flag potential risks like thin walls or unmachinable undercuts before production even begins.
Data-Backed Quality & Tolerances
- You might also worry that our claimed high precision is just talk, and that the parts won't fit when they arrive.
- We don't just hit "print" or "machine" blindly. Our engineers review your CAD files and provide actionable Design for Manufacturing (DFM) suggestions. We can flag potential risks like thin walls or unmachinable undercuts before production even begins.
Smooth handover to small-batch production
- You might worry that after prototyping with us, you'll have to start over with a new supplier for mass production.
- We offer an end-to-end prototyping experience. You don't need to waste time breaking in a new vendor. We have mastered several mainstream prototyping processes that can handle both small batches and full-scale production.
Strict NDA & IP Protection
- You might worry about your confidential designs being leaked.
- The case studies you see on this website are either photos of finished products approved by our clients, or projects designed and machined by our own in-house engineers. We are fully agreeable to signing an NDA before you upload any drawings.
Our Prorotyping Quality & Facility
We hold essential industry certifications such as ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485:2016, and IATF 16949:2016 for rapid prototping services. Our equipment is also regularly replaced and newly purchased on an ongoing basis.
FAQ for Rapid Prototyping Services
What is the pricing standard for First Mold’s rapid prototyping services?
For CNC and vacuum casting, we mainly decide the price based on the part size, machining time, and material waste.
For rapid tooling and injection molding, the price depends on the part size, tooling structure, and the estimated tool life (number of shots), plus the material.
For 3D printing, we determine the price based on the part volume, support structures, and the machine type (industrial-grade SLA, SLS, or FDM).
How long will it take to receive a prototyping quote?
For any process, our manual quotes usually take one day. If it falls on a weekend or other special cases, it may take up to 48 hours.
A manual quote is more accurate. If you prefer a rough estimate first, you can use our price calculator (available for tooling, injection molding, and CNC machining).
Can you provide small-batch production after prototype validation?
Yes, we can. Our service supports the journey “from prototype to production.”
After you approve the prototype, we recommend using our factory for small-batch production. You can choose vacuum casting or CNC machining for 10 to 100 units. For medium volumes (100 to 5,000 units), we recommend rapid injection molding.
Is there a minimum order quantity for prototypes?
Since we are a rapid prototyping service provider, we certainly have no minimum order quantity (MOQ) requirements.
What CAD file formats do you accept?
We recommend you use STP (STEP) or IGS file formats. These formats preserve the original surface data best and are less likely to have missing surfaces. We also support STL, X_T, SLDPRT, and other formats.
If you only have 2D drawings, we recommend that you obtain 3D drawings before working with us. Our company currently does not provide modeling or product design and development services.
What are the standard tolerances for different rapid prototyping processes at First Mold?
For CNC parts, we follow the ISO-2768-M standard. The typical tolerance is ±0.127mm (±0.005″). For extreme precision, we can achieve tolerances of ±0.0254mm (±0.001″).
For 3D printing (SLA/SLS), the typical tolerance is ±0.127mm (±0.005″).
For injection molded parts, we strictly follow the DIN-7168-M standard. The typical tolerance is ±0.1mm (±0.004″). Under extreme precision conditions (depending on the mold), injection molding tolerances can reach ±0.05mm (±0.002″).
If design modifications are needed after prototype testing, will the cost of a revised quote be high?
Not exactly.
If the design changes involve minor dimensional adjustments or local modifications, we usually provide a revised quote for free. We only charge for the extra machining time or material cost. If the design changes involve a major structural overhaul, we will issue a new quote based on the new design complexity.
Will you provide suggestions on my 3D design?
After we receive your drawings, our team will conduct a DFM (Design for Manufacturing) analysis during a project meeting.
If we find issues such as unsupported structures, fragile thin walls, insufficient draft angles, or assembly interference, we will proactively include a “Design Optimization Proposal” with the quote. This helps you avoid later trial-and-error costs.
Do your prototypes include comprehensive quality inspection reports?
After we receive your drawings, our team will conduct a DFM (Design for Manufacturing) analysis during a project meeting.
If we find issues such as unsupported structures, fragile thin walls, insufficient draft angles, or assembly interference, we will proactively include a “Design Optimization Proposal” with the quote. This helps you avoid later trial-and-error costs.
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