Prototype Fixture work is about speed and honesty: the part has to be real enough to test, and made in a material that behaves like the production one. The Prototype Fixture described here is built in machined stainless steel for strength trials and developed for robotics. rapid machining, printing and vacuum casting with design feedback is applied with tool life and the maintenance interval agreed before building starts.
The parts that matter most are the interfaces: bores, sealing faces, threads and mounting patterns. Those are held to ±0.1 mm, verified against the drawing, and recorded before anything is packed.
Specification
| Process | Rapid machining, printing and vacuum casting with design feedback |
|---|---|
| Material / configuration | machined stainless steel for strength trials |
| Size / capacity | lead times from 3 working days |
| Tolerance | ±0.1 mm |
| Surface finish | as machined, primed or finished to suit |
| Application | prototype fixture for robotics |
| Inspection | Dimensional report, material certificate, first article report on request |
| Lead time | 7–15 working days for samples, 3–4 weeks for production |
| Minimum order | 1 piece for prototypes, from 50 pieces for production pricing |
Manufacturing process
The operation sequence is decided before the first chip is cut: roughing to leave even stock, semi-finishing, then rapid machining, printing and vacuum casting with design feedback as the final operation. That order is what keeps ±0.1 mm stable as the batch runs and the machine warms up.
Material is purchased against a certificate and checked on receipt, so the composition is known before any cutting starts. Work in progress is identified by part number and operation, and the finished parts are deburred, cleaned and protected before they leave the machine area.
Typical applications
Most of the work supplied in this category falls into the following examples.
- Functional testing before tooling.
- Design reviews with physical parts.
- Customer approval samples.
- Clinical and regulatory evaluation.
- Investor and show models.
Quality control and documentation
Every batch is measured against the drawing with calibrated equipment, and results are recorded against the part number rather than kept on a scrap of paper.
Material certificates to EN 10204 3.1, dimensional reports and first article inspection reports are issued with the shipment where the application requires them. Calibration dates and measurement uncertainty are recorded alongside every result.
Ordering, lead time and packaging
Quotations are returned within one working day of a complete drawing package. Lead time is quoted from drawing approval, not from the date of enquiry.
Frequently asked questions
How fast can a prototype be delivered?
Machined prototypes ship in 3 to 7 working days from released 3D data, depending on material availability and finishing. Printed parts are often ready the next day.
Does prototype work carry over to production?
Yes. Toolpaths, fixtures and inspection methods proven at the prototype stage are retained, so the step to production does not start again from nothing.
What is the minimum order quantity?
One piece for prototypes and first article work. Production pricing usually starts at 50 pieces, and repeat orders run on fixtures retained from the first batch at no extra charge.
To discuss prototype fixture requirements, send the model and the drawing with the quantities required. Feedback on manufacturability is given free of charge before any order is placed.
