Rapid Prototyping
Shapeways provides rapid prototyping services that bring your ideas to life quickly and efficiently. Whether you need a single prototype to validate a design or multiple iterations for testing and refinement, our advanced digital manufacturing capabilities ensure precision, speed, and cost-effectiveness.
Precision prototyping design validation
For projects requiring unique, single-unit prototypes, our precision prototyping service enables fast, high-quality production without tooling constraints. From early-stage concept models to fully functional prototypes, we help engineers and designers accelerate product development by focussing on the engineering and not the prototyping process.
- Ideal for: Concept validation, fit-form-function testing
- Key Benefits: Rapid turnaround, cost-effective development, low minimum order quantities
Scalable prototyping for iterative development
Usually the prototyping phase is iterative, so our scalable prototyping approach streamlines production while allowing for adjustments based on test results. This ensures that each iteration meets design requirements before full-scale production.
With Shapeways, you gain access to a seamless digital workflow that integrates on-demand manufacturing, automated order processing, and global fulfillment across multiple 3D printing technologies and materials. Whether you are an early-stage startup or an established company refining a complex product, our prototyping services reduce risk and accelerate time to market.
Extensive material options for every application
Choosing the right material is crucial for effective prototyping. Shapeways offers a wide range of high-performance materials in plastics and metals.
See our range of materials broken down by the manufacturing technology at https://www.shapeways.com/materials
Our materials selection ensures the right production for aesthetic prototypes, fit-form-function prototypes, or a combination.
Why use rapid prototyping?
Prototyping is an essential stage in product development, allowing businesses to:
- Test and refine designs before committing to large-scale production
- Identify potential design flaws and improve performance
- Reduce development costs by eliminating tooling expenses
- Shorten time-to-market and accelerate go-to-market strategies
Simple prototyping can be achieved in-house, but often the scale of operations doesn’t warrant the investment in both money and time needed to run one or more 3D printers. Outsourcing through Shapeways allows instant access to the most relevant and modern technologies for very small volumes and occasional one-off parts.
How Shapeways simplifies prototyping
We remove the barriers to rapid prototyping by offering:
- On-demand production – Manufacture only what’s needed, when it’s needed.
- Seamless digital integration – APIs and design tools streamline ordering and production.
- Flexible manufacturing – Handle unique prototypes or iterative designs at any scale.
- High-quality production – Advanced 3D printing and manufacturing ensure accuracy.
- Technical expertise – our team is focussed on getting the best from our range of technologies, so you can focus on your business.
- Finishing and post-processing – where a 3D print needs additional finishing our team has access to a range of processes to perfect your parts
- Global fulfillment – Ship prototypes directly to your team or testing locations worldwide.
Take your idea from prototype to production
With Shapeways, you can move seamlessly from a single prototype to full-scale production — without the complexity of traditional manufacturing. When your prototyping is complete and you’re ready to make at scale, check out our bespoke manufacturing and mass customization solutions.
Get in touch today to learn how our rapid prototyping services can accelerate your development process and help you bring better products to market faster.