When someone decides to prototype a part, they are generally evalulating the form, fit, or function of a new or modified part. Metro Rapid Prototyping has several different time saving and accurate processes in place to address these needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q - How is the price of an Stereolithography Part Determined?
A - There are three factors that influence the price of an stereolithography part. The overall physical size of the SL part is normally the single largest contributing factor for determining the price of the part. Of the three dimensions considered, the height of the part "generally" influences the build time and there fore the price the most. The complexity of the part may also contribute to the price of the part. While a SLA machine can build very complex parts with ease, cleaning the parts may be another story. The third factor that affects the price of an stereolithography part is the volume of the part. This is generally not a factor on small parts but directly influences the prices as the overall part size (or wall thickness) increases.

Q - How large of a file can I e-mail?
A - We successfully receive attachments that are between 2 and 3 meg. If the files are larger than that we prefer FTP as the file transfer method.

Q - What file format does Metro Rapid Prototyping prefer?
A - The STL file is the most efficient format. If the STL file is good we can use it directly (without translation) in our system. The next preferred format would be a native Pro Engineer solid model. We can also use IGES surface files however these files can require additional work and may or may not be useable.