Faq

PARTEC is an Italian Rapid Prototyping Service Bureau using a wide range of Rapid Prototyping technologies and materials. PARTEC is the ideal partner for all the customers who need to transform quickly their ideas in winning products. Product life cycles are getting more and more shorter and the market needs are getting more specified; For these reasons, it becomes essential to study and to go into details of every components before pre-serie production, in order to be the first mover and to be more efficient than the competitors. PARTEC provides all available technologies to answer to every kind of customer needs and respecting the agreed delivery time.

Rapid prototyping (RP) technology is used for building physical models and prototype parts straight from 3D CAD model. The prototype is used to check project’s quality before final product realization.

CAD (Computer Aided Design) is a software used to create precision drawings or technical illustrations. CAD software can be used to create two-dimensional (2-D) drawings or three-dimensional (3-D) models. Thanks to the modern technologies it is possible to draw every type of objects.

STL format is widely used for Rapid Protyping. All CAD 3D softwares are able to convert every type of files into this format. You can send not only STL files but also: STP, IGES, DWF. If you want to send more files, we suggest you to create .zip or .rar files and to make only one upload.

There are no size limits for the files. Nevertheless if you need to send extremely large files, we suggest you to contact us before shipping them by e-mail.

To send files you only need to contact us by phone or e-mail. We will suggest you the best way to proceed. TEL. 035 705800 – E-mail: info@partec.it

We understand how critical the confidentiality of your project is to your product success. Partec, its employees, and vendors are committed to ensuring the confidentiality of all of their clients and their projects. None of your information, images, or likenesses will be shared with any third party, and it will not be used for any advertising, marketing, or promotional use without your explicit written authorization.

When the client sends a file to our technical department, we analyze it and, based on the clients specific needs, we find the best technology to realize the prototype. Then the file arrives to the production department: our employees take care of the details of your prototype, from the realization to the shipment. Partec setup the delivery following the agreed terms.

We can support you in the creation of the file: for any further information please contact us by phone or e-mail. TEL. 035 705800 – E-mail: info@partec.it

There are three kinds of prototype: – Manual: the modeler creates the prototype by cutting, pasting and working raw materials. – Traditional: the prototype is obtained using machining processes by chip removal – Rapid Prototyping: also known as 3D printing, it is an additive manufacturing technology. The process begins with taking a virtual design from modeling or computer aided design (CAD) software. The 3D printing machine reads the data from the CAD drawing and lays down successive layers of liquid, powder, or sheet material — building up the physical model from a series of cross sections. These layers, which correspond to the virtual cross section from the CAD model, are automatically joined together to create the final shape.

The prototype is used by designers, to check aesthetic aspects and the quality of the project, by mold makers, to create the final mold, by marketing departments, to show and test a new product before starting the final production, by everyone who needs to study and check single components details before producing the final product.

Partec realizes prototypes using five different technologies: – Stereolithography (SLA) – 4 machines – Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) – 3 machines – Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) – 1 machine – Vacuum Casting – 5 machines – Investment Casting (MPC) – 2 machines.

There are different maximum limit size depending on the chosen process: Below you can find the maximum size of Partec technologies: – Stereolithography: 500x500x500mm – Selective Laser Sintering: 700x580x380mm – Fused Deposition Modeling: 400x350x400mm – Vacuum Casting: 950x50x450mm – Investment Casting: ø350mm high 600mm If your part is larger than the build range we can easily split in sections and glue them together. This is common practice for large size prototypes.

Using Vacuum Casting technology it is possible to obtain pre-series with similar characteristics of definitive products.

The maximum production is around 30 items.

Although there is a big listing of prototyping applications, this technology is rapidly maturing particularly in automotive, medical, toys building, packaging, aerospace, electrical, scientific applications. Partec supports both big and small firms and also single designers.

It really depends upon the functionality of the product you want and the chosen technology. Delivery time could be from 2 working days to 2 working weeks.

The prototypes are shipped via express courier. Usually delivery within 24 hours.

Stereolithography also known as SLA, provides the greatest accuracy with an excellent surface finish. SLA parts are durable and these functional parts are suitable for wide variety of applications e.g. pre production, Product verification, Form/Fit/function testing, Snap fit assemblies, thin walled parts. Layer upon layer the resin solidified by a laser forms the prototype.

In the production department of Partec you can find 4 Stereolithography machines: with 3D SYSTEMS SLA5000 we are able to realize monolithic prototype of 500x500x500mm.

– SL7870 – Resina grigia X-Treme – Resina ACCURA25 – CERAMAX – PEAK

Selective Laser Sintering also known as SLS, is used to produce three-dimensional prototypes, parts, direct mold inserts, tools, and lost wax casting patterns.

Partec has installed two Selective Laser Sintering machines in its department: one of them, the EOS P700, allows the realization of large monolithic pieces: its work area is in fact 700x580x380mm.

– PA – PA + FV – PA +

The Vacuum Casting is a technology that allows the production of small series of objects with mechanical, aesthetic and dimensional accuracy very close to the finished product standards. The first phase consists in the realization of a Stereolithography piece, called “Master”; around the master a silicone mold has built; into this silicone mold different types of resins are poured to give life to the replicas. This type of technology is the ideal solution when it’s necessary to obtain several pieces or co-molded pieces, realized using two or more different types of resins in color or technical characteristics. Finally, this last system is also ideal for providing metal inserts molded parts.

Partec has installed in its production department five Vacuum Casting machines.

Investment Casting allows, trough vacuum fusion, the realization of a single or small metallic series in aluminum, brass and Zama. This technology guarantees an absolute design freedom: the obtained pieces can be very complex but at the same time characterized by an excellent level of accuracy. Depending on the technical characteristics of the piece there are two different “masters”: you choose the wax master when you need high production or the best surface finish; you choose the polystyrene master in case of complex geometries or small thickness.

Thanks to the big success obtained by this new technology, Partec decides to extend its production department, building a whole floor dedicated to the fusion implants. In 2010 Partec decides to double the implant with a new Pressure Over Vacuum Casting Machine,a Burnout oven and a chalk melting. In 2011 a further step ahead: Partec installs FORMIGA P100 by EOS, to realize polystyrene particulars.

Fused Deposition Modeling is the most recent technology introduced by Partec. It allows to realize prototypes of thermoplastic polymers, through a process of material deposition in molden state.

Using this technology, Partec produces prototypes in four different materials: ABS, PC, PC-ABS and ULTEM. The first is an extremely versatile material, stable and with a good surface finish. The second has excellent mechanical properties and resistance; the third, strictly black color, combines the best properties of both, while the ULTEM is characterized by superior mechanical properties, high resistance to temperature and certification to the flame. Whatever solution required, its realization is possible in Partec.

Partec offers a comprehensive range of services to meet your requirements. Assistance in the choice of technology and materials, study and design of the prototype, post processing operations to give a smooth finish, post technical assistance.

Partec doesn’t give any work phase in outsourcing.

The choice of technology is not always obvious: the feature most influential in the choice of the process is the required definition for the prototype. Partec technicians, and their experience in this sector, are available to analyze not only a model from a dimensional point of view, but above all to scan the needs of each project in order to identify the optimal strategy with the customer.

The process that allows you to gain transparent parts in a short time is the stereolithography. But be careful: a stereolithographed rough model, that is as it is removed from the machine, has the opaline (semi-transparent) finish. The transparent finishing of the pieces by stereolithography could be obtained thanks to a painting (sanded, painting and polishing) subsequent to the printing; these operations are performed by expert hands in a few days.

Often the surface thicknesses in the 3D provided models are not sufficient to guarantee the realization of the single details of a component. In the comparison table between the different technologies, find the minimum thickness of the surfaces achievable in the different additive technologies. Thicknesses and details visible on molded parts are not always compatible with the degree of definition of the prototype processes: an example is the writing in relief on some components which, given the degree of surface roughness of the technical additive, are not visible on the prototypes if the operation with a height less than 0,6mm.

No, each technology involves their specific materials: the materials differ in fact from their physical and chemical properties and cannot be exchanged between the prototype processes. The sintering of polymeric materials provides for example the use of nylon powder which cannot be a transparent material and cannot be applied to other printing technologies.

We need the 3D file to provide a quotation and feasibility analysis and also some informations not always expressed.
The 3D file is preferable to be a STEP, but other extensions such as STL, IGS or CATPart are also acceptable.

Among the necessary information, however, we find the required quantity of the prototypes and an idea of ​​the material. Giving a precise indication about the technology is recommended only if you already know the technological characteristics and are aware of which is the best way to obtain that particular. Otherwise, we recommend indicating what the purpose for which the prototype was designed and rely on Partec’s technical experience for the choice of the materials and the technologies.