Primary process: SLA / Resin (Vat). The full route, materials, tolerances and design tips for a prototype smooth, with an indicative cost.
SLA / Resin (Vat)Primary process
AdditiveFamily
6Route steps
+/-0.05mmTypical tol.
A prototype smooth is primarily made by SLA / Resin (Vat). SLA/resin printing cures liquid photopolymer layer by layer with light, giving fine detail and a smooth finish. Below is the full route to make a prototype smooth, the materials it suits, the tolerances to expect and the main design points. The route is free, from the finder.
Step by step
How a prototype smooth is made
The usual route, raw material to finished part. The amber step is where the prototype smooth gets its basic shape.
CAD and slicing
Prepare the 3D model, orient the prototype smooth and generate supports and layers.
SLA / Resin (Vat)
Build the prototype smooth layer by layer.
Tooling None Tolerance ±0.05 to 0.2mm Lead hours to days
Support removal
Take the part off the plate and remove the supports.
Post-cure
Wash and UV-cure the resin prototype smooth to full strength.
Surface finish
Bead blast, tumble or sand to the finish you need.
Inspection
Verify dimensions and, for metal, check density and porosity.
Need the real cost for a prototype smooth? The free route above is yours. Unlock the full dossier to quote and source it.
Where this process typically lands. Tighter is possible with extra operations like grinding, at higher cost.
Materials
Materials for a prototype smooth
Grade
Why it suits this
Standard resin
Smooth, detailed, brittle
Tough/ABS-like resin
More durable
Castable resin
Burns out clean
Design
Design tips
General pointers. The full design-for-manufacturing list for a prototype smooth is in the dossier.
Thin unsupported spans.Thicken or add supports.
Trapped resin cavities.Add drain holes.
Cost
What a prototype smooth should cost
Fine detail and smooth finish (resin); great for visual proto, dental, jewellery patterns. Parts can be brittle.
PER-PART COST vs VOLUME
Per-part cost drops as volume spreads tooling and setup over more parts. The exact figures for a prototype smooth at your volume, in your currency, are in the dossier.
MODEL EST.
$16 to 45per part at 1 off
A rough ballpark only. The dossier gives should-cost at your exact volume and currency, with the full breakdown.
GET THE FULL DOSSIER
Everything you need to quote and source it
The free route above is yours. To actually put a number on a prototype smooth and buy it well:
Should-cost at your exact volume in 12 currencies, with the material, processing, tooling and overhead breakdown
Who to source from, typical MOQ and lead time, and the exact RFQ checklist to send
A quote checker that tells you if a supplier quote is fair, and the red flags to watch
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A prototype smooth is primarily made by sla / resin (vat). The route is: CAD and slicing; SLA / Resin (Vat); Support removal; Post-cure; Surface finish; Inspection.
What does a prototype smooth cost?
It depends on size, tolerance and volume. As a rough ballpark it starts around $16 to 45 per part at 1 off and falls with quantity. The dossier gives should-cost at your exact volume and currency. A model estimate, not a quote.
What material is a prototype smooth made from?
Common choices are Standard resin; Tough/ABS-like resin; Castable resin.
What is the main process for a prototype smooth?
SLA / Resin (Vat). Detailed prototypes, dental and jewellery patterns, and smooth cosmetic models.
See the exact route and should-cost for your part
The free finder maps your part to its process and full route. Pro adds should-cost at your volume, sourcing and an RFQ draft.
