Norck: Accelerate Your Development with Expert Rapid Prototyping

Norck delivers fast, accurate, and cost-effective prototypes using CNC machining, 3D printing, sheet metal fabrication, and injection molding. Our skilled engineers and advanced technologies ensure your designs are validated quickly, exceeding expectations across diverse industries.

Expanded Capabilities:

CNC Machining:

• 3-axis, 5-axis, and multi-axis milling for simple to highly complex geometries.
• CNC turning for precision cylindrical prototypes with tight tolerances.
• Wide range of metals (aluminum, steels, alloys) and engineering plastics.
• Surface finishes tailored to testing needs (rough for fit checks, fine for functional evaluation).

3D Printing (FDM, SLA, PolyJet, MJF):

• FDM: Cost-effective for early iterations, large prototypes, and jigs/fixtures
• SLA: High-resolution for intricate details and smooth surface finishes.
• PolyJet: Multi-material and full-color prototypes for realistic appearance and overmolding.
• MJF: Fast production of functional nylon parts.

Sheet Metal Fabrication:

• Bending, forming, and cutting of various metals and thicknesses.
• Welding and assembly of multi-component enclosures and brackets.
• Surface finishing options (powder coating, anodizing) for representative prototypes.

Low-Volume Injection Molding:

• Rapid tooling for cost-effective short runs with production-grade thermoplastics.
• Overmolding and insert molding capabilities for complex assemblies.
• Essential for testing material behavior, gate placement, and draft analysis.

Assembly Services:

• Mechanical assembly of multi-component prototypes for fit and function testing.
• Integration of electronics, sensors, and other elements.
• Bonding, fastening, and finishing for a complete prototype solution.

Why Norck for Rapid Prototyping?

• Problem-Solving Approach: We understand your pain points and tailor the right methods for your goals.
• Rapid Iteration Support: Get multiple versions quickly to refine designs and improve functionality.
• Material Expertise: Guidance on choosing production-equivalent materials for realistic testing.
• Design for Manufacturability (DFM): Early feedback to avoid costly production changes later.
• Single-Source Responsibility: Streamlined prototyping and assembly process, saving time and coordination.

Rapid prototyping is a set of fabrication techniques with a quick turnaround. It helps turn designs into scaled prototypes as close to the designed model. It is used in the preliminary stages of product development.

Rapid prototyping can be used in conceptual models, functional prototypes, tooling, electronics, and medical industries.

The most used techniques for Rapid prototyping are 3D printing, selective laser sintering (SLS), CNC machining, and sheet metal fabrication.

Rapid prototyping is used to:

- Validate the functionality of a part/assembly before launching the mass production

- Demonstrate the aspect and features of a product and gives firsthand user experience

- Reduce the cost of a product by minimizing the time of development and production drastically

Rapid prototyping techniques can be divided into two categories:

- Compressive manufacturing: by forming a base material into a shape such as 3D printing

- Subtracting manufacturing: by removing material such as CNC machining and sheet metal fabrication

Norck offers three types of rapid prototyping, 3D printing, CNC machining, and sheet metal fabrication.

The most used process is 3D printing which is an additive manufacturing process. In 3D printing, there are types such as:

a. Fused deposition modeling (FDM):
FDM is the most popular and most cost-effective of the 3D printing processes. It uses a filament of a thermoplastic material such as PLA AND ABS. The filament passes through a hot nozzle that melts it and using a computer-controlled system, the nozzle moves along two axes and deposits the melted material on a platform. When a whole layer of the desired shape is deposited, the nozzle moves up to deposit the next layer. Once the 3D printed model is finished, it can be removed from the platform, any excess material or burrs is removed, and surfaces are smoothed.

b. Stereolithography (SLA):
SLA 3D printing uses a bath of UV-sensitive liquid resin and an ultraviolet laser beam to solidify the liquid layer by layer. The laser beam is computer controlled. The solid layer is pulled up, and the next layer is processed. Once the 3D printed model is finished, it can be removed from the platform and submerged in isopropyl alcohol to remove any excessive resin. Then the model gets exposed to passive UV light. SLA models are less rigid than FDM printed models.

c. Selective laser sintering (SLS):
It uses a laser to sinter a bed of powder-based materials (Metal, resin, or polymer) to turn the powder into solid products. Materials used in SLS are more fragile than those used in FDM or SLA. Printed models can be finished using sanding, polishing, or spray coating. SLA parts have higher accuracy and smoother surfaces than SLS and FDM.

Comparison between the four techniques can help you narrow your choice, or contact us to get more information:

Parts and assemblies should follow specific design rules to be cut properly. Norck offers engineering services that will help you confirm your design for 3D printing.

CNC machining designates a subtractive process in which operations like milling, turning, and drilling is performed to produce the designed parts by removing layers of material from the primitive material shapes. The advantage of traditional machining is that CNC machining uses computer-controlled machines, which means more accuracy, higher fabrication speed, and low labor cost.

Refer to the CNC machining and Design rules for further information.

Norck is a technology-powered manufacturing leader specializing in CNC machining, 3D printing, sheet metal fabrication, and injection molding. Our intelligent, data-driven approach ensures exceptional quality, optimized costs, and seamless supply chain management for companies worldwide.

Key Services:

• Precision CNC Machining: High-quality custom parts and components.
• Advanced 3D Printing: Rapid prototyping and complex production parts.
• Sheet Metal Fabrication: Custom fabrication solutions across materials.
• Injection Molding: Scalable production for plastic parts.

Why Choose Norck?

• AI-Powered Manufacturing: Data and AI optimize our processes for superior quality, minimized costs, and supply chain visibility
• Vast Production Capacity: Our extensive partner network in Europe and the US guarantees both low and high-volume production.
• End-to-End Expertise: Our team of engineers, data scientists, and product developers ensure design for manufacturability and unparalleled service
• Single-Source Solution: Norck streamlines your supply chain, reduces overhead, enhances purchasing power, and delivers just-in-time results.

Experience the Norck difference. Get a quote fast for your manufacturing needs today!