Vapour Smoothing
Protolabs’ new post-process ‘vapour smoothing’ – a first for European digital manufacturing – has developed additive manufacturing further. It enables parts 3D printed from the commonly used material PA-12 and the elastic TPU-01 to be 3D printed with a smooth surface finish similar to that produced by injection moulding.
Ready to Start?
Kick start your next project by uploading a 3D CAD file. Within hours, we'll send you free design analysis and accurate pricing. From there, you can work with our team of applications engineers to bring your product to market.
How to Work With Us
Upload a CAD File
To start, simply select a manufacturing process and upload a 3D CAD file.
We can accept the following file types:
> SolidWorks (.sldprt)
> ProE (.prt)
> IGES (.igs)
> STEP (.stp)
> ACIS (.sat)
> Parasolid (.x_t or .x_b)
> .stl files
Design Analysis is Performed
Within a few hours we'll send you design for manufacturability (DFM) analysis and real-time pricing.
Along with accurate pricing, our interactive quote will call out any difficult to manufacture features based on the manufacturing process you have selected. This can range from difficult to mold undercuts to deep holes on machined parts.
Manufacturing Begins
Once you review your quote and place your order, we'll start the manufacturing process. We also offer finishing options.
We offer a variety of finishing options for all manufacturing services. These can range from powder coat finishing and anodizing to basic assembly and threaded inserts.
Parts are Shipped!
Our digital manufacturing process allows us to produce parts in as fast as 1 day
Success Across Industries
See how the world's most innovative companies are using digital manufacturing for rapid prototyping and on-demand production. We serve a broad range of industries ranging from life-saving medical devices to aerospace engine components.
Additional Links and Resources
On-demand Injection Moulding – Critical to Quality (CTQ)
Our on-demand injection moulding includes Critical to Quality (CTQ) inspection and measurement without affecting the rapid dispatch times that you have come to expect from us.
It means that you can have quality assured parts, complete with a First Article Inspection (FAI) report and a CTQ capability report, shipped in as little as one day.
Request More Information
Thank you for your interest in Proto Labs! We’ve received your message and a member of our team will be in touch with you shortly.
You can find more information about Proto Labs here:
- Find out more about our manufacturing services here
- Take a look at our 'material comparison guide' for more information
- Find our more about our free Design Aids on our website
Please complete the form and we will contact you to discuss your project in more detail. We can also be reached at +44 (0) 1952 683047