Finding a Company Capable of Custom Manufacturing
Once the architect has developed their drawing, sketch, or model, they still have to find a company capable of manufacturing the customized object that they’ve designed. In Québec, like everywhere else, few companies offer these types of services: 3D scanning, computer-aided design (CAD), custom machining with manufacturing on 3 and 5 axes by digital cutting (CNC), and 3D printing. As for the companies that only do custom manufacturing, offer this entire range of services, and meet the following criteria, they’re even rarer:
- They don’t require a minimum quantity and can manufacture a prototype or a small batch.
- They commit to reasonable deadlines and make every effort to respect them.
- They’re capable of machining any non-standard piece, as well as complex, custom, and highly precise structures of all dimensions.
- They let you use a wide variety of materials, whether they supply them or they’re provided by the clients: wood, Plexiglas, polystyrene, RenShape, Lexan, MDF, foam or plastic, and – more generally – all non-metallic materials.
Meeting Deadlines
With custom projects, finding a company that offers the necessary services and that can demonstrate enough flexibility to meet deadlines is a considerable challenge. As in the context of manufacturing a prototype, there’s no turning back: you’re forced to work step by step, making adjustments along the way. Most of the time, it’s virtually impossible to quantify the number of working hours that it will take to manufacture the object.
The competence of a team of specialists combined with the technology of a 3D scanner and custom machining are essential conditions for reducing the delivery times of the pieces and respecting a tight schedule, which sometimes only leaves a few days to manufacture the piece.
The expertise of the professionals, as well as the personalized 3D scanning and machining services, let you save a considerable amount of time, which can be put to good use by the architect, who can devote themselves entirely to designing the project and other pieces.
The collection and delivery of the pieces once the manufacturing is finished also helps save valuable time.
Paying a Fair Price
With custom-manufactured objects, the working time is difficult to quantify, making the manufacturing cost unpredictable. The only way for the architect to be able to control costs is to announce a firm price to the client and to find a company willing to agree beforehand on a fixed rate for the manufactured object, which isn’t the case with all organizations that offer 3D scanning, machining, and printing services.
When you have custom objects manufactured, being able to combine a fast turnaround time, a reasonable price, and a meticulous job that meets the client’s requirements is a real challenge. Although they’re rare, there are companies that possess advanced technologies and teams of professionals that have the necessary expertise to create impeccable objects within the agreed timeframes and at a reasonable price.