Proto Labs has added a suite of capabilities designed to address the manufacturing needs of low-volume, high-mix product segments. Image credit: Proto Labs
Proto Labs has added a suite of capabilities designed to address the manufacturing needs of low-volume, high-mix product segments. Proto Labs aims to bridge the gap in manufacturing services for low-volume, custom-molded components.
In previous years, companies had to purchase components in large volumes in order to meet the minimum order quantities required by traditional manufacturers. The companies have also had to work with multiple vendors to address all the needs from prototyping to the final production of the part. These extra steps add cost and time to obtaining the parts. Proto Labs is now tailoring its offerings to specifically address the prototyping and on-demand manufacturing needs.
The new on-demand manufacturing service offers customers competitive part pricing and guaranteed lifetime mold maintenance and ownership.
Proto Labs is also reinforcing its commitment to quality and serving customers’ production needs by opening its first metrology lab. This lab is for enhanced inspection reporting on end-use production parts. The metrology lab has a range of standard inspection equipment, along with 3-D scanners that provide an automated 360-degree look at parts in just a few minutes. Proto Labs also offers a digital inspection report along with the standard range of First Article Inspection Reports. The digital inspection report includes a precision surface scan with a detailed color map for direct CAD-to-scan comparison in order to quickly identify dimensional variances on parts.
To learn more about the new injection molding options from Proto Labs, visit the on-demand manufacturing page. There is also a virtual tour so users can see the digital manufacturing facility in action.
