High-Quality at Low Volumes
Fathom can provide quick turnaround 3D prototyping, low-volume production and sub-assembly operations. Our experienced engineering staff and quality craftsmen can assist in determining the best approach to meet or exceed your expectations regarding production needs, costs and schedules.
Your final product will be unmatched in quality, precision and finish. We can also offer turnkey solutions to your custom requirements. If you need a one-of-a-kind specialty device or light-to-medium production volumes, we can assist you.
Whether you need pilot production or discontinued service parts, Fathom offers a broad range of services ranging from traditional hard- and soft-tooled molds to a direct digital additive manufacturing program.
Learn More About Our Low-Volume Production Capabilities //
What is Low-Volume Manufacturing?
Low-volume manufacturing is a phrase used to describe the mass production of custom or niche products in a small volume. Using traditional manufacturing methods, low-volume manufacturing could prove to be expensive as the cost of manufacturing is divided between each part produced. The overhead costs of traditional manufacturing methods involve tooling, materials and labor. Thanks to a hybrid approach that incorporates both conventional manufacturing methods additive manufacturing, the cost of low-volume manufacturing has decreased. With additive manufacturing, the cost of entry is low—less material wasted and less labor.
Why Has Low Volume Manufacturing Become Popular?
While traditional manufacturing methods such as plastic injection molding may still be the best choice when your projects require a higher volume of parts, low volume production has seen a steady surge of popularity in recent years. Many industries have discovered that additive manufacturing for low volume production allows them to spend less time and money on materials and tooling while getting to market faster. Additive manufacturing has also allowed brands to respond to design changes quickly.
Advantages of Low-Volume Production
There are many advantages to low-volume production and producing less can certainly benefit your business. Some of the benefits of low volume manufacturing include //
- Get To Market Faster // Depending on the technology chosen, you can get to market within a matter of days or a few weeks instead of months. Some industries change at a rapid pace and low-volume production can help you work with these challenges.
- Customer Feedback // Gather customer feedback before doing high-volume production
- Reduce Tooling Cost // Depending on the process chosen, you can quickly adjust the design without changing the total number of products needed. The result is greater flexibility and savings while reducing waste.
- Shortened Lead Times // For high-volume production, the mold can take up to a month to make. By using additive manufacturing or 3D printing processes, there is no need to wait for a mold or tooling, which significantly shortens the lead time.
- Respond Quickly To Design Changes //Reduce costs and experience shorter production time
Low-Volume Production Processes
Fathom offers many different technologies that are capable of small-batch production with customization. Whether you select injection molding, CNC machining or 3D printing and manufacturing technology, you will be impressed by our quick, efficient and high-quality service.
About Injection Molding
At the beginning of the injection molding process, a custom mold is produced based on the project’s specifications. The material selected is then heated into a liquid state and added to the mold’s cavity. The material cools inside the mold. Once the part has cooled, the mold ejects the part and the machine resets to repeat the process.
How Does Injection Molding Benefit Low-Volume Production?
- Higher-Strength
- Durable
- Weather-Resistant
- Scalable
- Repeatable
- Wide Variety Of Materials
About CNC Machining
Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining is a manufacturing process during which a pre-programmed computer software directs the movement of factory machinery and tools. CNC machining can control a variety of complex machinery, from mills and routers to grinders and lathes. Using CNC machining allows three-dimensional cutting tasks to be accomplished with a single set of prompts. This process has become popular because there is no need for a live operator to push levers, buttons and wheels. Once a CNC machine has been activated, the cuts are programmed into the software and then communicated to the tools and machinery which perform the task, similar to a robot.
How Does CNC Machining Benefit Low-Volume Production?
- Quicker Turnaround
- Minimal Monetary Investment In Tooling & Prep
- Scalable
- Wide Variety Of Materials
- Accurate
- Repeatable
About 3D Printing & Manufacturing / Additive Manufacturing
3D printing, sometimes referred to as additive manufacturing, is a process in which a part is built in successive layers. First, a designer creates a blueprint using CAD or Computer-Aided Design software. Alternatively, a scan of an object may be taken. The software then builds the design layer-by-layer, making instructions for the additive manufacturing machine to follow. The design is then fed to the device and the product is produced.
How Does Additive Manufacturing Benefit Low-Volume Production?
- Weight Reduction
- Shorter Lead Times/Reduction Of Build Time
- Easy Tooling Change
- Less Labor
- Design Freedom/Customization
- Complex & Delicate Parts
- Easily Recreate Legacy Parts
- Bridge Production
Which Industries Use Low-Volume Production
Fathom has been assisting a wide range of businesses with their low volume production needs. Having worked on various parts, we are experts in matching the best technology and materials for each project. Some of the industries we have worked with on low volume production jobs include //
- Aerospace
- Automotive
- Consumer Products
- Energy
- Electronics
- Education
- Industrial
- Medical & Dental
- Robotics
Let Fathom Help You with Your Low-Volume Production Project
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