Rapid prototyping with the pocket nc

In-House Rapid Prototyping with the Pocket NC

Are you considering bringing rapid prototyping in-house? In the world of product development, the time it takes to bring a product from the design stage to the manufacturing stage is vital — from staying competitive and minimizing costs, to delivering lifesaving technology, the days and weeks matter.

Thanks to its ability to deliver high accuracy and material strength, CNC machining is often the best prototyping method. Its subtractive manufacturing process can create an exceptional level of complexity in a wide variety of materials.

With Penta’s 5-axis CNC machines, designed to make in-house machining simple, accurate, and user-friendly, more manufacturers can stop outsourcing the design and assembly of prototypes to third-party shops.

Rapid prototyping applications

Penta’s Pocket NC is ideal for smaller spaces, such as an office or other non-traditional machine shop environment, where prototyping rather than full production is the goal. Its 5-axis capabilities decrease how many setups are required per part, reducing the need for specialty fixtures or repositioning. Additionally, a 5-axis setup can cut complex shapes that a 3 axis or 3+2 axis system cannot.

CNC-machined prototypes created on the Pocket NC can be an ideal option for a diversity of manufacturing applications, including:

• Visual prototypes

• Concept models

• Functional prototypes

• Pre-production prototypes

• Production tools

• Production molds

In short, CNC machining is an effective option for many different modeling needs.

A quick note: If you’re exploring internalizing your prototype creation and want to know if a Penta machine can accurately and reliably produce your design, we can help. Reach out to our team to start the conversation — we can even look at your design files and talk through materials to set you up for success.

In this post, we will outline some of the main reasons to bring rapid prototyping in-house, what to consider, and how to choose what machine specifications you need. 

The benefits of in-house rapid prototyping with CNC

Develop products faster (save time)

When rapid prototyping is done in-house, “rapid” becomes the operative word. Traditional outsourcing can create lag times that add up — from communication and execution to product transit time. But time becomes much less of an issue with in-house prototyping. You can see and test models faster, then make and test updates right away — proof of concept is, literally, in your hands, often within days or hours rather than weeks or months.

Minimize prototyping costs (save money)

The cost of a Penta machine is often lower than the cost of outsourcing. With a capable operator at the helm, the creation and functionality testing can be completed at a fraction of the outsourced price. The in-house approach also reduces shipping costs, vendor markup, and the need to pay for additional contractors.

Part of the cost savings is the potential to reduce errors and correct potential problems immediately and at each stage of prototype iteration.

Increase innovation (create the best product)

The realities of outsourcing, including cost and lag time, mean that fewer ideas from the design stage are likely to make it to prototyping. By saving costs and speeding up the process, the in-house approach creates more freedom to innovate. Dozens or even hundreds of options can be created and tested in the weeks it would take for prototypes to return from an outsourced vendor. By supporting a more iterative and creative process, you can have confidence that the final design is the best one, with all concepts considered.

Reduce outside logistics or red tape (control the process)

For many US-based companies, finding a machine shop with the capacity and capabilities to support their manufacturing needs is more challenging than it used to be. By internalizing the rapid prototyping process, you’re reducing the potential for outside logistics, red tape, or other surprises — and taking a stand to support US-based manufacturing.

And when the time comes to scale production of a part, having intimate, firsthand knowledge of the prototype’s design and production process will set you up for success in future manufacturing, whether that process happens in-house or out-of-house.

Getting prepared

While it can help you save money over the long run, purchasing a 5-axis machine is a serious upfront investment. Before you make the move to bring your prototyping process in-house, it’s vital to have someone on your team with experience in designing, machining, and CAM use (or someone who’s ready to do some serious learning!).

Once you’re confident in your company’s machining capabilities, it’s time to consider equipment. The right setup for you will be determined by the type of part you want to create, your budget, and your team’s machining experience. We can walk you through the specifics of each option and help ensure your 5-axis setup is ideal for your rapid prototyping goals. 

At Penta, our goal has always been to expand access to machining possibilities. We’re here to help put the power of 5-axis CNC in your team’s creative and capable hands. Contact us to start the conversation about bringing your prototyping in-house with Penta.