Engineering Resin Empowers Flexible Manufacturing: From Prototyping to Functional Parts
2025.10.21 
NextShapes,ABS60,3D Printing 
＜1 minute 
In today’s manufacturing environment, companies are constantly seeking more efficient and flexible ways to verify designs and achieve small-batch production. Traditional CNC machining or injection molding, though highly precise, often becomes cumbersome and costly when dealing with rapid iteration and diverse demands.
A mechanical design–focused team encountered the same challenge while developing a new type of industrial equipment — until they began using NextShapes 355 nm Engineering Resin for SLA printing.
“We needed a way to verify new designs within a few days, rather than waiting through the long lead time of outsourced machining,” recalled the project leader.
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Limitations of Traditional Processes
At first, the design team relied on CNC machining to produce prototype parts.
“We often had to wait several days or even a week just to receive a single prototype,” said one of the team’s engineers. “Every design change meant re-machining and additional cost.”
For functional testing and customized client projects, such lengthy cycles made it difficult to maintain development speed.
Moreover, the surface finishing and dimensional errors from metal machining further increased the complexity of assembly and post-processing.
New Flexibility Brought by Engineering Resin
After introducing NextShapes Engineering Resin, the team’s workflow changed almost overnight.
SLA printing enabled them to generate functional parts directly from CAD models and complete installation tests within hours.
“The first part we printed fit perfectly into the device structure,” recalled the engineering lead.
“It allowed us to validate designs faster, identify issues, and make improvements immediately.”
NextShapes Engineering Resin combines high strength and toughness, allowing printed components to maintain structural rigidity while offering slight flexibility — ideal for mechanical housings, jigs, and connectors.
Its excellent surface finish and fine detail performance also simplify post-processing — with only light cleaning and curing, the parts are ready for use.
From Validation to Application: Reliable Performance
For test parts used in industrial environments, dimensional stability and long-term durability are crucial.
After repeated verification across multiple projects, the team found that NextShapes Engineering Resin maintained precision even under continuous load and repeated assembly.
“Our previous prototype materials often deformed or cracked, but this resin is very reliable — it withstands continuous mechanical stress,” said a project technician.
They have since used this material to print a variety of structural components, including equipment support bases, positioning jigs, and quick-connect fittings.
These printed parts not only serve for assembly testing but have also been integrated into small-batch production.
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Achieving New Possibilities in Flexible Manufacturing
With the repeatable, high-precision performance of SLA printing and the robust mechanical properties of NextShapes Engineering Resin, the team can now complete the entire process — from prototype to small-batch production — internally.
”We no longer depend on outsourcing or third-party machining. Each test can be completed within one or two days,” the project lead noted.
This internal production capability greatly enhances manufacturing flexibility, enabling faster response to customer needs, shorter delivery cycles, and continuous innovation in a highly competitive market.
The Material Powering Manufacturing Innovation
NextShapes firmly believes that great materials are the foundation of innovative manufacturing.
With high strength, toughness, and excellent dimensional stability, Engineering Resin provides solid support for flexible production.
It not only helps companies accelerate design validation but also makes internal production of small-batch functional parts possible.
From industrial R&D to equipment manufacturing, Engineering Resin is becoming a key material driving the transformation toward flexible, agile manufacturing.
