Beyond Stereolithography

The 3D format shortens the time frame from conceptionalization to being a "tool" for manufacturing. It is an important analytical resource for Mechanical Engineers and Industrial Designers. All spatial, geometrical, and cosmetic attributes of a part are known prior to making large investments in tooling, extremely useful.

Stereolithography is the making of a real physical prototype form that 3D design file, you can hold Stereolithography in your hands and get the feel of your design, design verification, fit form check. Engineering check fits or to simulate a store bought product by painting and texturing.

The next level would be multiples or cast durable duplicates.

Stereolithography.com's tolerance compliant prototypes will allow injection mold tooling cost savings of up to 15%. In many cases, the tooling cost reduction will exceed the investment in the tolerance compliant prototype.

Other methods may be used to produce "prototypes" that are not tolerance compliant and are, in fact, are really only "conceptual models". Stereolithography.com's tolerance compliant prototypes are the most effective in terms of total investment and the developmental cycle time.

Stereolithography.com continues to makes capital investments in equipment and casting materials that provide the greatest benefits to our clients.

Casting
Stereolithography.com offers casting services with excellent repeatability.

All of the attributes of a finely prepared pattern are preserved while maintaining textures, colors, dimensions, and material characteristics. A silicone (RTV) mold is a reliable and economical production medium for small number parts production. The cosmetic attributes of our castings are comparable to injection molding. Thin walls and snap fits are easily accommodated

Particular care is exercised in selecting our vendors and specific materials. Stereolithography.com knows this qualification process will assure material performance, which is the most important attribute to achieve world-class quality. Specific materials are chosen to meet the needs of the casting project. Consultation is provided when material R&D research and development is required. We will supply our clients with data sheets on any material used. Two part castable urethanes that (excellent for use in projects with thin walls) are primarily used. These materials are excellent when specific strength urethane characteristics are required; offering good UV stability and very low shrink rates. Additional product specifications are available from our office or via urethane vendors on our links page.

Casting Options

Color Matching - Stereolithography.com offers a choice of color, based on a pantone number, incorporated into the urethane to produce a casting. This method is excellent for parts that have fine details that a coating may distort, or are subject to abrasion.

Clear Casting This is our specialty, Using our propriety methods, we have produced some of the largest and highest quality clear castings in the industry. This allows the production of thick and thin mass clear castings without inclusions, air bubbles or surface distortions.

Tint Matching - This is available in almost any color tint for clear and translucent casting.

Material Filling - When a customer requests it, at no additional cost, we "glass-fill" urethanes with milled fiberglass, which enhances the strength characteristics.

Additional Molds - When casting larger projects additional molds are available at a significant discount.

Materials R&D - Our technicians use a large variety of urethanes and epoxies; introducing new materials on a constant basis without logistical problems.

Coating - Painting, EMF shielding, clear coating, and vacuum-metalization (outsource), all utilizing superior HLVP spraying techniques, are available on a customer-required basis.

Production Runs
Stereolithography.com's short run production services utilize the same high quality methodology used to produce prototype castings.

This cost effective manufacturing method uses either silicone or epoxy for very short production runs or metal filled epoxy molds for larger short production runs. Projects of 100 to 20,000 parts are easily accommodated.

Our highly efficient production line, with the use of a meter-mix dispenser and materials that set and de-mold rapidly, allows us to ship high quality parts to clients quickly.

All the casting materials and casting options that are used for prototypes are also available for short run production projects. This capability provides our clients with many short run production options..

Casting for Art
Stereolithography.com produces a wide variety of artistic projects. To complete a casting for art project we require either a pattern or digital formatted information. The sequence of art projects follows the same order as prototyping projects. The major difference with casting for art is the use of more subjective geometry.
We work to capture the essence of the artist's creative effort. This flexible approach in determining which methods to use for each project assures an outcome that will please the artist.

Stereolithography.com casts in a variety of materials. Clear sculpture and wax for investment casting are available using non porous-mold mediums.

Contact Stereolithography.com now to have your artistic project brought to fruition.