Wayken rapid prototyping adds 3D printing to injection moulding and CNC machining
Whether you are an independent inventor designing a new product or a multinational company with a global operation, Wayken’s rapid prototyping and manufacturing services can help you reach your goals
Although Wayken specialises in injection moulding and CNC machining, it also offers 3D printing services.
Most manufacturing professionals will probably tell you that if you’re serious about high-quality prototyping and mass manufacturing, you’re probably going to have to involve yourself with injection moulding and CNC machining sooner or later, although 3D printing can be useful in many areas.
Wayken can guide you through the process of using all the current manufacturing technologies.
Injection moulding refers to the process of injecting molten material into a mould. A variety of materials can be used for both the mould and the part that is to be fashioned inside the mould – mostly they are plastics and metals.
And despite all the excitement about 3D printing, injection moulding remains the predominant method of making high-quality prototypes and for mass manufacturing.
The first injection moulding machine was said to have been invented some time in the late-1800s and the technique remains the preferred choice because it provides a highest-quality finish – perfectly smooth and immediately usable.
Although injection moulding is not a technology that competes directly with 3D printing, the traditional approach is making technological progress of its own to reduce the amount of time it takes to go from idea to reality, from sketch to object, from computer-aided design model to final product – something 3D printing is known to offer.
For 3D printing processes, WayKen mainly uses stereolithography, or SLA, which is a UV based curing process, and selective laser sintering, or SLS, which uses a carbon dioxide laser.
Whatever the methods and tools used, Wayken’s rapid prototyping and low-volume manufacturing services now cover every industry – anyone can get their ideas made quickly using collaborative design tools such as Fusion 360, Solidworks and Onshape, with a little help from friendly engineers at Wayken.
Software applications can be used to design parts and moulds, and the drawings and data from the software can be immediately shared with Wayken from anywhere in the world through the internet.
Often, injection moulding is used in conjunction with computer numerical control machining, or CNC machining, for which you need Gcode – something that the experienced engineers at Wayken can guide you through.
But simply put, Gcode is the list of instructions for the CNC machine to follow in order to create the part for you.
Wayken is one of the longest-established companies in this sector and has two independent facilities of 20,000 sq ft each, and 60 employees committed to delivering the fastest and highest quality service and products to customers using the latest and most effective technologies.
The company’s main services are:
- rapid prototyping;
- rapid tooling;
- CNC machining;
- engineering design support; and
- 3D printing.
Wayken was established in Hong Kong, and has another factory an hour away in Shenzen, on mainland China.
Its customers are from a variety of fields, including:
- industrial design;
- consumer devices;
- household appliances;
- industrial machinery;
- commercial equipment;
- medical instrumentation;
- automotive components;
- aerospace parts; and
- many more.
As well as offering quick prototypes, Wayken takes time to work with customers to decide what method would be most appropriate and most cost-effective for their requirements – injection moulding and CNC machining or 3D printing or a combination of all of them?
While it would be difficult to describe a typical or standard customer or project, the experience gained from working with many different companies help inform new projects on an ongoing basis.
The exact method the company uses to manufacture prototypes really depends on the design.
Sometimes, complex designs which look great inside the CAD software may not be possible to make in practice. Or maybe it would be possible to make a prototype of it, but mass manufacturing the item might present unnecessary cost implications.
These are the types of issues Wayken’s team of engineers can help address, and have been addressing for many years, leading to continuing business growth through personal recommendations.
“Our goal is to continue supplying affordable quality prototypes, which contain the functionality of production intent,” says a Wayken spokesperson.
“Our business model is based on providing cost-effective solution to our customers, which allows us prototype makers to deliver technically superior solutions at a lower cost.
“Our biggest asset is our customer base, which has grown through word-of-mouth to include customers from around the world – from independent inventors and designers to large automotive, medical, and household appliance manufacturers, as well as aerospace companies.”