Rapid prototyping service

Its scope of supply includes machined components, metal parts, turned and cast parts, plastic components and sub assemblies, for a wide range of applications.

Blue Diamond can produce a solid metal/plastic 'real life' model within a 12 to 14 day turnaround. Its engineers verify all the information from the original drawing so they can identify and resolve problems before they occur.  Rapid prototyping results in a physical component that can be used to check fit, function, ergonomics and aesthetics.  This allows the customer to check feasibility and make detailed adjustments before finalising the design.

Blue Diamond uses Autodesk Inventor software for 3D mechanical design, product simulation, tooling creation, and design communication.  Inventor enables an accurate 3D model to be produced that allows Blue Diamond to design, visualise, and simulate customer products before they are built.  This powerful software package helps improve product design, reduce development costs, and minimise development times.

Following successful prototyping the next stage is often small batch production to prove the design and manufacturing process before moving to high volume output.  When manufacturing is underway, components can be quickly and accurately measured using the latest multi-sensor, coordinate system.  This compares the measurements obtained from the component with the dimensions and tolerances on the engineering drawing and details any dimensions that are outside the dimensional tolerances. 

Mike Doel, director, says: "Customers are often unaware that 'real life' prototypes can be produced quickly and cost-effectively. As it is frequently the case that only by trying and testing a solid prototype can fit and function be truly evaluated, enabling a customer to get his hands on such a prototype speedily is of immense benefit.”