Design

3D Modeling

You’re planning on a bringing a product to market, but as with many new concepts, some questions still linger. What if you could make your 3D CAD renderings into plastic prototype parts to review with your team?

The team at HQC can help transform your concept into a 3D printing. While the materials might be slightly limited, a physical model can provide the size, scale, feel and appearance of your product’s screen image so you can better discuss and evaluate it.

Back in the days when there were few 3D printers, HQC could already see the value of this technology to problem prevention and design improvements, as well as speed to market. Most of the time it was to print plastic prototype parts that would be injection molded to help different businesses consider improvements to the printed part before starting the product’s expensive mold-building stage.

We installed our first 3D printer at HQC in 2007.

Since then, we’ve continued adding printers to support product development for our customers. One of our machines is a high-end industrial 3D printer that can take a part you’ve drawn and convert it to a plastic part. This capability is now common for applications ranging from education to manufacturing.

Over time, the 3D printer’s value extended into flexible packaging and custom fitments. HQC also developed new ways to insert the fitment models into pouches. This had been a challenge because a 3D printed part is not compatible with most sealant layers. We have also found ways to design and merge the 3D plastic part into a standard seal base to weld to different sealant film layers

Another plus to 3D printing at HQC is our ability in prototype and production when you need auxiliary tools or assembly fixtures. Doing this in-house does more than save you time – it also provides a safety net if there are any variations! New tooling can be designed and printed much more quickly than having it done offsite.

So whether it’s an existing product or a concept, we can take your renderings and convert them to files we adjust and review on the screen using SolidWorks computer-aided design. Once the files are approved, we can print and provide samples to review and, if needed, change. We can also usually send you a printed model within two days so we can start to review it with you.

Having a 3D model is important. Many mistakes and improvements are made at this stage. Also, if needed the 3D models can be machined or items can be added to them to represent even more how or for what they’ll be used.

3D printing becomes pivotal to any marketing department as well. Talking about and visualizing a concept or product is one thing. Being able to show a customer an actual part they can hold is a much bigger thing!

A Quick Review

Advantages of HQC 3D Printing

  • Prototypes are made onsite to save time and help with speed to market.
  • For one-of-a-kind or never-designed prototype parts for custom plastic injection molding, you have a good way to see how they function and or fit together.
  • The 3D-printed prototype is an actual hand-held product, so you can review and discuss it.
  • Marketing has something to hand to the customer – it’s not just a flat part on the screen.
  • 3D printing helps prevent mistakes, nurtures improvements and creativity, and brings the customer into the process.
  • Even in flexible packaging, HQC has found a way to make a hybrid prototype part that can be welded into a pouch.
  • You can use the 3D prototype as a fixture in pre- or post-molding operations.
  • You can machine the part to some degree to add features or to add fasteners to connect to other pieces of products.