Real validation of the part-process relationship
Final material + injection process = real behaviour data. Shrinkage, warpage and dimensional stability measured, not estimated.
Technical comparative analysis of the main plastic part prototyping solutions.
When functional validation requires the real behaviour of the injected part, conventional prototyping solutions are insufficient. Pilot2Plant covers that gap.
Final material + injection process = real behaviour data. Shrinkage, warpage and dimensional stability measured, not estimated.
Design issues detected before the production steel mould. Corrections in the prototype phase have significantly lower costs and timelines.
The prototype becomes a documented preliminary step to series production. Process parameters and dimensional reports are directly transferable to the final mould.
Evaluation of the main technical criteria that determine the suitability of each prototyping solution for injection-moulded plastic parts.
| Criteria | 3D printing (FDM / SLA) |
Machining CNC |
Prototype RIM |
Pilot2Plant (P2P) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final plastic material | No | No | Partial (polyurethane) | Yes |
| Real injection process | No | No | No | Yes |
| Normal class tolerances | Not reliable | Yes | No | Yes |
| Reduced class tolerances | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Warpage / shrinkage validation | No | No | No | Yes |
| Technical surface finish | Limited | Good | Limited | Good – Excellent |
| Mirror polish | No | Possible | No | Yes |
| Sample volume | Unlimited (slow) | Low | Low | Minimum batch |
| Direct transition to industrialisation | No | Complex | No | Optimised |
| Tooling iteration | Not applicable | Costly | Not applicable | Possible (machining) |
| Cost per part small batch | Low – Medium | High | Medium | Medium |
| Indicative lead time | Fast | Medium – Slow | Medium | Medium |
The choice between solutions depends on the validation objective, the part geometry and the required material.
Four differentiating factors that define the technical value of the service against conventional prototyping alternatives.
Unlike 3D printing or machining, Pilot2Plant uses the final plastic material in a real injection process. This allows analysis of shrinkage, warpage, thermal behaviour and dimensional stability with real data, not estimates. The result is a part that behaves like a series part, not a geometric mock-up.
Manufacturing a production steel mould has a high cost and significant lead time. Detecting design errors at this stage can involve costly modifications or even mould refabrication. Pilot2Plant allows identifying and correcting these errors before compromising the final tooling budget.
The prototype mould insert can be modified through additional machining, inserts or welding, allowing faster and more economical design iteration than with a production mould. This makes it possible to validate geometric variations or adjust tolerances without needing to fabricate completely new tooling.
Pilot2Plant results — dimensional report, material certificates, process record — serve as technical documentation for the industrialisation phase. Injection parameters established during prototyping are directly transferable to the final mould, reducing ramp-up time and initial adjustment cycles.
Pilot2Plant is the optimal choice in rigorous technical validation scenarios. Knowing its limits allows selecting the right solution for each project.
Pilot2Plant is ideal when:
Other solutions may be more suitable when:
Send us the technical documentation and we will evaluate feasibility without obligation.
