Digital manufacturing company Proto Labs, which is primarily known for its rapid injection molding prototyping services, has added a suite of capabilities designed to address the on-demand manufacturing needs of the low-volume, high-mix product segment.
According to the company, there has been a gap in manufacturing services for low-volume, custom molded components for years. Companies had to purchase in large volumes to meet the minimum order quantities often required by traditional manufacturers, and work with multiple vendors to address varied needs from prototyping to final part production. Both would add cost and time to part procurement.
As a result, Proto Labs has tailored its offerings to specifically address the needs of both prototyping and on-demand manufacturing.
According to the company, the new on-demand manufacturing service offers customers more competitive part pricing along with guaranteed lifetime mold maintenance and ownership.
New Metrology Lab
The company also opened its first metrology lab for enhanced inspection reporting on end-use production parts. The metrology lab houses a range of standard inspection equipment, as well as 3D scanners that provide an automated 360-degree look at parts within minutes.
In addition to the standard range of First Article inspection Reports, Proto Labs also offers a digital inspection report that includes a precision surface scan with a detailed color map for a direct CAD-to-scan comparison to quickly identify dimensional variances on parts.
