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At 3ERP, we offer professional rapid prototyping services to support every stage from development to product launch. Our manufacturing capabilities enable us to provide a comprehensive range of rapid prototyping solutions, encompassing processes such as 3D printing, CNC machining, injection molding, sheet metal fabrication, and other specialized services.
With a wide array of in-house manufacturing equipment, we enable fast and advanced production, including the ability to produce multiple prototypes in parallel. Most parts are delivered within 5–12 days to accelerate testing and development.
As a form of additive manufacturing, 3D printing is one of the fastest and most versatile methods for rapid prototyping, enabling the production of concept parts made from plastic, metal, or elastomeric materials without the need for tooling.
Some parts can be built and shipped in as little as 1 day, making it a highly cost-effective solution for early-stage development and design validation.
At 3ERP, we offer commonly used 3D printing technologies, along with an extensive selection of materials, including ABS, PC, PA, ULTEM, and titanium. Combined with advanced surface finish options like polishing, clear coating, and painting, our 3D printing services deliver high-detail, precision parts quickly and affordably.
CNC machining is ideal for prototype parts that need functional testing using final production materials. At 3ERP, we operate a broad range of CNC machining centers, including mills and lathes (for CNC turning), enabling fast and reliable production. We support a broad selection of materials and finishes, and can also combine CNC machining with other processes for greater flexibility.
CNC machining is one of the most precise fabrication methods available. While it prioritizes quick turnaround over ultra-tight tolerances, the output quality remains high.
CNC machining offers fast turnaround for small-batch production, producing parts that are often nearly production-grade. Although typically more expensive than 3D printing, CNC parts provide an excellent surface finish and superior mechanical strength.
Rapid injection molding is a fast and cost-effective method for producing plastic samples. Ideal for functional testing, design validation, and producing parts for bridge tooling, it delivers parts that closely replicate end-use quality.
At 3ERP, we also provide in-house rapid tooling services to accelerate your product development timeline. By building custom molds in advance, we can deliver a functional model in as little as 7 to 15 days.
Compared to 3D printing or CNC machining, rapid injection molding excels when tight material specifications, high surface quality, and consistent part replication are required. Though the setup is more involved, it enables you to test dozens or even hundreds of near-final parts, making it essential for the pre-production phase.
Rapid sheet metal fabrication is ideal for producing functional metal parts such as brackets, enclosures, and structural components, especially those with flat or simple geometries.
Although setup times are generally longer than 3D printing, rapid sheet metal fabrication offers excellent cost-efficiency for larger or simpler parts. It delivers lead times comparable to CNC machining, often within one week or less. It's also a great choice for testing multiple design iterations in parallel at a relatively low expense.
Sheet metal parts are typically made from aluminum, stainless steel, cold-rolled steel, and copper. For added complexity, sheet metal components can be further refined through CNC machining for tapped holes, cutouts, and other precision features.
Urethane casting (often combined with vacuum-assisted processes) is a widely used prototyping method for producing high-quality plastic parts in low volumes.
This method is ideal for creating visual samples, presentation models, and functional components when injection molding is too costly or time-consuming for early-stage development.
Key advantages of urethane casting include low tooling costs, short lead times, and very low minimum order quantities. Although urethane-cast parts are generally less durable than injection-molded parts, they closely mimic the look and feel of production-grade plastics, often without the need for post-processing.
Each silicone mold typically supports around 20 castings, making urethane casting a perfect fit for short-run production and iterative product development. We offer several material options to support different project requirements.
Rapid metal casting is an efficient and cost-effective method for producing high-quality metal prototypes in low volumes. By leveraging 3D printing to create low-cost patterns, 3ERP enables fast turnaround times for cast metal parts that closely resemble final production components.
Unlike traditional foundries that require high production volumes, 3ERP collaborates with trusted casting partners to offer low-volume metal casting services starting from as few as 10 units.
One of the main benefits of rapid metal casting is its ability to deliver near-production quality parts with excellent mechanical properties, including high tensile strength. The process supports very large or complex parts and is compatible with post-machining, allowing for close tolerances and custom surface finishes.
Our rapid prototyping service helped a product design company bring this coffee machine concept to market faster. The prototype features both plastic and metal components: the main body is made from ABS with paint and silk-screen finishing, while the water tank uses polished PMMA for high transparency. A stainless steel plate, cut via water jet and polished to a mirror finish, completes the design.
The client was highly satisfied with the prototype’s appearance and performance. It streamlined functional testing and accelerated the product’s launch.
A customer approached 3ERP for a titanium golf club head using DMLS (Direct Metal Laser Sintering) 3D printing technology. While the main body showed good structural quality, the plate was deformed and unassemblable, and the surface was too rough for practical use.
To resolve these issues, we performed surface finishing through sanding and sandblasting and replaced the deformed plate with a CNC-milled aluminum part. This combination of advanced fabrication techniques and precision machining ensured a high-quality replacement part.
To support Microsoft's Project xCloud development, Yanko Design created an innovative Xbox controller concept based on patent designs. 3ERP transformed this vision into reality in a short time through integrated manufacturing technologies, employing precision CNC milling, CNC turning, and vacuum casting.
Most projects are completed in days, thanks to our streamlined in-house process, without sacrificing quality.
Our experienced team works closely with you to solve design challenges, ensuring your prototypes meet the exact design intent, function, and tolerance requirements.
Rapid prototyping is the process of quickly turning a product idea into a physical prototype using digital design and modern manufacturing technologies.
The prototype is produced using advanced manufacturing technologies like 3D printing and CNC machining, with material options including engineering-grade plastics and metals. If needed, surface finishing is available to enhance both aesthetic quality and functional performance.
Rapid prototyping allows designers and engineers to quickly create early versions of a part or product—called prototypes—to test form, fit, and function. Its primary goal is to enable fast, multiple iterations and design improvements, reducing risk and accelerating time to market.
As a leading prototyping company, 3ERP offers rapid prototyping services using a wide range of production-grade materials such as plastics, metals, resins, and composites. Depending on your project requirements, we apply the most suitable manufacturing methods, including CNC prototyping, 3D printing, and casting.
Visit our materials page for a detailed overview of commonly used options. If your desired material isn’t listed, feel free to contact our team. We’re happy to explore custom solutions for your project.
Different rapid prototyping models are used to address specific needs at various stages of product development.
Concept Model: A basic prototype used to communicate the initial idea or design concept. It’s typically for internal use and may go through multiple revisions.
Display Prototype (Looks-like Prototype): Focused on visual appearance, this type closely resembles the final product in shape and finish but may lack functionality. It's often used for presentations or marketing purposes.
Functional Prototype: Designed to perform like the final product, this prototype is used to test mechanical properties, fit, and function. It's essential for engineering validation.
Pre-production Prototype (Factory Sample): The final prototype before mass production. It verifies the manufacturing process and ensures the product will perform as expected when produced at scale.
Every product development process starts with a design. To kick off your project, you’ll need to convert your idea into a manufacturable 3D CAD file — usually a STEP file for CNC machining or a Mesh/STL file for 3D printing. No CAD experience? No problem — we can help turn your concept or even a simple sketch into a ready-to-use design file.
In addition to the CAD file, please let us know:
If you're unsure about any of these, just contact us — we're happy to guide you through the process.
