Appearance Model 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. Designed for electronics, this Appearance Model is produced in machined aluminium for functional testing with rapid machining, printing and vacuum casting with design feedback. The figures below are the ones recorded at tryout rather than theoretical values.
Tolerance is applied where it does work rather than across the whole drawing. Critical features are held to ±0.1 mm, non-critical dimensions follow the general machining tolerance, and the difference is stated in the quotation rather than discovered later.
Specification
| Process | Rapid machining, printing and vacuum casting with design feedback |
|---|---|
| Material / configuration | machined aluminium for functional testing |
| Size / capacity | quantities from 1 to 100 pieces |
| Tolerance | ±0.1 mm |
| Surface finish | as machined, primed or finished to suit |
| Application | appearance model for electronics |
| 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
Work is carried out with rapid machining, printing and vacuum casting with design feedback. Tooling, speeds and fixturing are recorded with the part number, so a repeat order starts from a proven process instead of a fresh setup.
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
Critical features are measured on calibrated equipment in a controlled room, and the results are filed with the job so that a repeat order can be compared with the first.
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
Packaging is specified by the part: individual protection for finished surfaces, separation for assemblies, and export crating with a packing list for shipment.
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.
Drawings are reviewed for manufacturability before quotation, and any feature that adds cost without adding function is pointed out at that stage rather than after the parts are made.
