ProtoCAM
3848 Cherryville Road
Northampton, PA 18067
United States of America
Phone: 610-261-9010
Fax: 610-261-9350
ProtoCAM Rapid Prototyping Blog
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Rapid Prototype Quotes - Getting a Quote for a Prototype / Part | #2 in FAQs Series
This is the second
in a series of FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions - that ProtoCAM hears from
customers who call or email. Topic #2 concerns getting a quote for a prototype / part, including:
How do I get a quote from ProtoCAM?
How long will it take to get a quote
Why doesn’t ProtoCAM use instant online quoting?
(Note - we hear people refer to the item they want quoted as both a part and a prototype; we’ll
call it a part in this blog post.)
To provide you with an accurate price quotation for the parts you want us to make, we ask customers to complete the Request for Rapid Prototype Quote form on our website. This provides you with the opportunity to upload your
3D CAD file and provide additional information about the part’s specifications
and how it will be used. The more
information you provide, the better we are able to address your
request.
Our engineers work on quotes between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM Eastern
Standard Time Monday through Friday, and can generally provide a price quotation
in two business hours or less. If it is sent after hours, we’ll work on it
first thing in the morning and typically send out your quote by 10 AM. Quotes
are normally delivered via email in a PDF file, but if you require something
outside of this regular process, just let us know.
ProtoCAM does not use instant online quoting because we believe your
request deserves the attention our dedicated engineers offer. We have years of
experience providing rapid prototyping services and bring a depth and breadth of technical and
practical knowledge that cannot be replicated in a computer-generated quote. Instant
online quotes are fast, but may not necessarily be good. We want to understand your part and how
it is going to be used so that we can provide you with the best possible
solution at the best price. In many cases, we can apply our expertise to find
better and possibly less expensive ways to make your part.
File Types for Rapid Prototyping/Additive Manufacturing Quotes | #1 in FAQs Series
This is the
first in a series of FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions - that ProtoCAM hears
from customer who call or email. The topic - File Types!
A critical part
of any interaction with ProtoCAM is the file that is sent to us containing the
representation of the part or prototype to be produced. Getting this handshake
- the exchange of the 3D CAD file - accomplished smoothly is a good first step
that allows us to review the part quickly and process your request for quote or
questions in the shortest time possible.
Here are some
typical questions we hear, and our best responses:
What File Formats do we prefer?
ProtoCAM easily accepts any of the following file formats:
STL files - STL is a file format native to the stereolithography CAD software
created by 3D Systems. File extension: *.stl
Native SolidWorks files - SolidWorks is a 3D
mechanical CAD (computer-aided design) program from Dassault Systèmes
SolidWorks Corp. File extensions: *.sldprt, *.sldasm, *.slddrw
Parasolid files - Parasolid is a geometric modeling
software from Siemens PLM Software used in many CAD/CAM packages. File
extensions: *.x_t, *.x_b
STEP files - ISO 10303 is an ISO standard for the computer-interpretable representation
and exchange of product manufacturing information. It is known informally as
"STEP", which stands for "Standard for the Exchange of Product
model data". File extensions: *.stp, *.step
IGES files - an Initial Graphics Exchange
Specification is a file format which defines a vendor neutral data format that
allows the digital exchange of information among CAD systems. File extensions:
*.iges
Other file types may be acceptable - contact ProtoCAM and our engineers
will verify.
What Settings Should I use when
exporting an STL file?
ProtoCAM’s preference would be that you to export a binary file using
the highest resolution setting your CAD package will allow. If this results in an abnormally large file
size or if you cannot get the desired resolution, you can submit one of the
other preferred file formats for ProtoCAM to translate.
A few days ago, a customer wrote us with a compliment stating-
"You guys put the PRO in ProtoCAM."
While hearing words of gratitude from our customers about our rapid prototyping services is always poetry to our ears, this time it also provided the impetus to reflect on what our name means to us as a company, and the message it may convey to others.
Let's take a brief glance at Dictionary.com to explore the etymology of the underlying components, shall we?
proto-
a combining form meaning “first,” “foremost,” “earliest form of,” used in the formation of compound words (protomartyr; protolithic; protoplasm), specialized in chemical terminology to denote the first of a series of compounds, or the one containing the minimum amount of an element.
Also, especially before a vowel, prot-.
Origin: < Greek, combining form representing prôtos first, superlative formed from pró; see pro-2
Fun! So ProtoCAM literally translated means something like "The foremost in computer-aided manufacturing." Interesting how the origins of the components of our company name describe not only the product, but the process- futuristic technology like lasers and 3D computer modeling, finished with classic skills and craftsmanship to produce prototypes of tomorrow's products.
Initially we developed the company name simply to identify ourselves as creating Prototypes through Computer Aided Manufacturing. Though it certainly describes our field, we work hard to make sure the more literal interpretation applies as well. We differentiate ourselves by providing exceptionally high quality prototypes on very tight schedules. Our daily efforts to truly provide "Excellence in Rapid Prototyping" have helped earn us the distinction of being the Eastern United States' largest rapid prototyping bureau.
Recently, ProtoCAM adopted a more environmentally friendly, renewable material to replace packing peanuts- Expandos. If you've not yet received a shipment from us with them, below is a brief run-down of some of its qualities we've appreciated.
Primarily, it squarely addresses the fundamental principals of environmental friendliness- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Reduce-
Similar to Ikea, the packing is sent to us flat, then built into its final state in our office. It comes in bundles of 8"x12"x19" (think breadbox) and expands to 25 cubic feet (think refrigerator.) In addition to reducing the frequency of inbound packaging material shipments, we're able to store weeks of supplies in a smaller space.
By virtue of their triangular shape and jagged edges, the individual pieces lock to one another to hold parts in place, and they are much more resistant to crushing than peanuts. The result is- instead of sifting to the bottom, as heavier objects tend to do during shipping in peanuts, the parts are suspended where they are packed. For many items, this allows us to safely protect parts without the extra time and material needed to cut foam packaging specific to the individual part. For our customers, this means less waste, and greater flexibility to reuse the packaging material we send.
Reuse-
Customers can enjoy some of the same benefits we've enjoyed as they re-use the packaging for their outbound shipments. Of course, that can be done with other packaging as well, and while we no longer purchase any packing peanuts, we do reuse those sent to us rather than sending them to landfills.
Recycle-
Not only are they made from recycled materials, they are extremely easy to recycle. For customers who do no shipping or can't reuse them for some reason, Expandos can go right into the recycle bin. They're made from what's basically a heavy card-stock, so they can be recycled along with the paper in most offices.
A few customer comments-
"By the way, the new packing material is cool stuff."
"The packing material is interesting. Have not seen it before."
"It is nice because it does not stick to the items or myself."
"No objections to it at all. Seems to do the job just fine."
"Not as messy."
Like our customers, we love that unlike peanuts they don't blow around, and no more annoying static cling! We're not paid spokes-people for the product, and get no benefit from touting its virtues. We're just very excited at the benefits we've gained from switching, and are happy to ship parts to our customers in packing that's more protective, more convenient AND more environmentally friendly.
Stereolithography bones, medical prototyping, and other scary cool stuff!
No need to wrestle zombies, dismantle skeletons, or dig through graveyards for bones this Halloween, ProtoCAM has you covered!
As depicted in the video above, additive manufacturing can be a great way to simultaneously produce multiple copies of the same or disparate parts while saving the time and expense of individual tooling.
Wandering the office with a camera is bound to catch a few other scary sights as well. Bones, clear and otherwise, huge spiders, medieval torture devices, and ghouls lurk around every corner!
Homecoming is over, time to get serious about homework. These tips should help you get your Request For Quote homework done to ensure a rapid and accurate reply with a quote, and get your prototypes how and when you want them.
* Make sure your 3D CAD file is as you want it prototyped; we'll build it exactly how you send it to us. If you have questions, our engineers can help get your project to a build-ready state.
* Compress and combine your files using WinZip or similar compression application
* Submit your request via our online form. Remember, you can upload a compressed file with all your parts and indicate individual quantities, finishes and even materials in the comments section.
* Alternately, you can submit your request using our YouSend It account; this option allows for files up to 2GB. Please make sure to include a detailed description of your desired quantity, material and finish, And as always, please compress and combine your files.
* Homework Hotline: 610-261-9010- Remember, we're always happy to help if you need suggestions on how we can produce the best possible prototypes for you. We're here to help you get it right the first time instead of incurring the delays and expense of having to re-submit. Our skilled engineers are available Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm Eastern time.
We're here to help you achieve Excellence in Rapid Prototyping!
This week, we have a bonus cheatsheet on PolyJet; RFQ homework tips coming soon.
One of the most useful features of PolyJet is the ability to create a wide range of part attributes with different mixtures of the digital material. Tango Black can be soft and rubber-like all the way to Vera White which is similar to hard plastic, and most options in between. Additionally, it can be over-molded to make parts with
different characteristics in different areas.
A rundown of properties for a few of the many PolyJet materials ProtoCAM offers:
For more info, please check the extensive datasheet linked above. As always, we're
ready to help if you would like any additional tutelage in determining
the best material for your particular prototype.
posted by ProtoCAM at
1:51 PM 
