Prototyping

Plastics

• 3D Printing – Additive layering through ‘printing’ the plastics
• FDM (Fused Deposit Modeling) – Thermoplastics melted and deposited as additive layers
• SLA (Stereolithography Apparatus) – Photosensitive resins sintered by a laser that traces the part’s cross-sectional geometry
• SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) – Photosensitive powders sintered by a laser that traces the part’s cross-sectional geometry
• CNC (Computer Numerically Controlled) – Computerized machining of solid pieces (metal, plastic, wood…)
• RTV Molds – Silicone molds for casting plastic parts

One thing to note is that our pricing for doing CNC parts is generally comparable to doing 3D printed parts in the US with other firms, but the CNC part gives a preferable surface finish and structural integrity that matches much closer with what the manufactured injection molded part will look like.

Metals/Woods

• CNC – Good for fine details of parts with similar structural integrity and surface finish of injected parts
• Traditional Craftsmanship – Utilizing traditional metal and woodworking tools and machines

Fabrics

• Traditional Seamstress Techniques – Sourcing correct materials and utilizing traditional sewing techniques

Electronics

• PCB and PCBA prototyping
• Assembly of PCBA into housing or other components and tested according to guidelines

Finishing

• Painting – Parts can be painted to your requirements
• Powder Coating – Parts can be powder-coated to your requirements
• Pad Printing – Parts can be pad printed to your requirements
• Silk Screening – Parts can be silk screened to your requirements
• Packaging – digital prints can be made for packaging mock-ups

Multiple Materials

• Integrative Technologies – A big advantage of working with Berkeley Sourcing Group is that if your product has multiple materials, we can coordinate all of the above technologies to make each of the separate components and then assemble/integrate them together into your final product.

Results

During this transformation of taking your product from conceptual drawing to a physical model, there are often small functionality issues that are unforeseeable in the initial drawing/design. Our team will work with you to overcome these obstacles and hone your design into a fully functioning working product. Once a prototype is created, our project managers and engineers will inspect and test it in minute detail, looking for weak spots and consumer use issues that might arise. Before shipment, we send a complete Prototype Inspection Report with pictures of the prototype and analysis of the prototype specifications/results.

Unlike a normal prototyping company, the suggestions and results garnered from our team will immediately translate into manufacturable product as our team is working with the factories directly. Often US based prototyping companies do not deeply understand the tools and machines available, or the most cost effective or efficient ways of working in China. This adds a costly and timely extra step in the process between the final prototype and the beginning of manufacturing as you work to redesign your product for manufacturing.

Once you have completed your prototype with us, the opposite will be true. You will not only have your prototype in hand, but a lot of the manufacturing details will have already been adjusted and confirmed with the factories that you will be using for your mass product and you’ll be well on your way to national distribution!