What is prototype welding?

One of the challenges of growing business in the manufacturing sector is sourcing prototype assemblies in an effort to expand your marketplace reach. One of the solutions to that challenge  is partnering with a contract manufacturer with experience and expertise in prototype manufacturing.

Prototype welding in plastics and metals has been a speciality of Axenics for 35 years. One benefit we offer our customers is a team of cross-trained experts. Guidance from a versatile team is one way to ensure your next prototype project will follow a smooth course to production.

What is involved in prototype manufacturing?

Updating or expanding a product line often involves the design, engineering and production of custom assemblies. We work with manufacturers in the medical, sciences and technology fields, who are producing devices that help transport potentially corrosive liquids and/or chemicals from one location to another. In that type of manufacturing, plastic is often preferred as it is more chemically-resistant than most metals. New devices also demand more functionality in a smaller workspace, so plastic welding is often a great solution for those components.

Welding plastics entails creating a molecular bond between two compatible thermoplastics. Plastic pipe welding is used to create custom assemblies, as it allows for the joining of two units as an alternative to the use of larger fittings.

Companies come to Axenics with a result in mind, allowing our team of mechanical engineers, electronic engineers and technicians to come up with a solution by constructing prototypes. Developing a complete assembly from concept to a working prototype takes a deep understanding of how each component fits and works together to accomplish a specific function. While our clients know what the end result for a component will be, getting there involves trials, revisions and testing by a team of experts.

Using CAD-based and other technologies, Axenics works with a manufacturer’s design ideas to develop the control systems, mechanical components and materials required to create a high-functioning assembly prototype made with custom weldments.

The goal of a working prototype is to create an assembly that goes directly into production for proof of concept. When looking for a contract manufacturer that specializes in prototype welding, here are some elements to consider:

• Adaptability: Your instinct may be to rely on the technologies and materials you are most familiar with from prior productions. With a new prototype, Axenics can broaden your horizons by introducing new materials and technologies that could make your assembly more productive at a lower material cost.
• Expertise: Your prototype should adhere to any established or industry regulations. We have thousands of hours of weld design and production under our belts. By developing a prototype assembly with your specifications, we can show you how it works in real time and make note of any potential production issues, and then make improvements before supplying the completed prototype.
• Education: You should be able to gain knowledge from experienced engineers and technicians in an effort to design the strongest concept. We counsel our customers on how different materials interact with each other – and with the materials they will interact with during production processes. This is all done in an effort to avoid malfunctions or quick wear-down of components.

Partnering with a contract manufacturer to develop prototype assemblies using techniques such as plastics welding can be a rewarding step toward expanding your manufacturing operations or extending your product lines. Axenics customers have utilized successful prototype assemblies that we produced in-house, so they can focus on creating the final product with the confidence that all the components will function together seamlessly.

Seeking additional solutions to your pain points? Download our free welding guide.

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