RapidDirect’s latest online tool is every designer’s dream come true. Upload your 3D model on the website, select the material and manufacturing procedure, and voila, you’ve got yourself a quotation for prototyping your part in less than 24 hours. It takes an industrial designer months to arrive at their masterpiece… prototyping shouldn’t add an extra month to that timeline. RapidDirect, China’s largest manufacturing network is taking their services to the cloud with their online manufacturing portal. Headquartered in the world’s biggest industrial hub, Shenzhen, RapidDirect aims to reach out to designers around the world looking to rapidly and accurately prototype their designs. The process is as simple as selecting your model, material, and manufacturing process. RapidDirect’s engineers review your model and generate a quotation tailored to your design. You can manage multiple quotations within the platform, while its interface simplifies the process, eliminating the long chain of email exchanges you’d otherwise end up having with your prototyping partner before approving a quotation.

The platform’s instant quotation system is its winning feature. Based on your material, finish, and the manufacturing process you choose, RapidDirect can generate a quote for you within 24 hours… that’s about the same time as it takes to generate a hi-res photorealistic render. RapidDirect’s manufacturing choices range from 3D printing and CNC machining to even injection molding and sheet metal fabrication. For added clarity, users can even provide the RapidDirect with technical drawings and design instructions. “Our digital online manufacturing platform provides users with up-front costs and detailed order information,” said Leon Huang, Managing Director, RapidDirect. The process makes creating real, usable prototypes as simple as clicking a button and having your product delivered to you via post. Now isn’t that every industrial designer’s dream!?

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RapidDirect’s Online Manufacturing Platform with Instant Quotation Engine

The platform allows you to upload your parts, select a manufacturing process and choose from a wide selection of materials and finishing options. You can even get your project quotation within 24-hours!

The RapidDirect team has developed its new online manufacturing platform to simplify on-demand manufacturing. Eliminating the back-and-forth of email correspondence, the platform uses existing order data to build an accurate quotation for a project, based on factors like part size and material.

To use the online service, users simply upload a file and select various processing options — including manufacturing technology, material and finishing options — from drop-down menus.

The online platform also allows users to manage multiple quotations in one place and track the progress of orders.

How it works

RapidDirect’s new online manufacturing platform can be used for every manufacturing service offered by RapidDirect: CNC machining, injection molding, sheet metal fabrication and 3D printing.

Once a file has been uploaded and a manufacturing process has been chosen, users can select a material, finish and unit quantity, and are given the option to provide further remarks and manufacturing instructions. Technical drawings can also be uploaded to provide further instruction to RapidDirect’s engineering team.

When these elements have been specified, users can submit their request for quotation, upon which they will receive a confirmation email. A RapidDirect engineer will then review the specifications and provide a quotation within 24 hours.

Users will be notified by email when the quotation has been created, and can assess the quotation — which includes a proposed price and lead time — by logging into the RapidDirect platform directly. When logged into the platform, users can manage multiple quotations at once, confirm or reject a proposed quotation and view the status of pending orders. For added clarity, quotations are priced in terms of total cost and cost per unit.

Click Here to Know More: RapidDirect