В разработке продукта, plastic prototypes stand out for their cost-effectiveness—often 30-70% cheaper than metal alternatives like aluminum or stainless steel. This affordability, combined with versatility in design and processing, makes them the first choice for many teams, especially for appearance verification, functional testing of non-load-bearing parts, and small-batch iterations. This article explains why plastic prototypes are cheaper, compares their costs with other materials, and shares practical strategies to further reduce expenses, with clear tables and examples to guide decision-making.
1. Core Reasons Why Plastic Prototype Is Cheaper
Plastic prototypes’ lower cost stems from four interrelated factors, from raw materials to processing efficiency. Understanding these helps you better leverage their cost advantages.
1.1 Factor Breakdown with Cost Impact
| Фактор | Detailed Explanation | Cost-Saving Impact | Практический пример |
| Lower Raw Material Costs | Common plastic materials (АБС, Стр, ПК) have significantly lower base prices than metals. Например: – АБС: ~15-25 CNY/kg – Стр: ~10-20 CNY/kg – Алюминиевый сплав (6061): ~20-30 CNY/kg – Нержавеющая сталь (304): ~80-100 CNY/kg | Reduces material cost by 40-80% compared to metal prototypes. | A 500g prototype: – ABS material cost: 500g × 0.02 CNY/g = 10 китайский юань – Алюминий (6061) Стоимость материала: 500g × 0.025 CNY/g = 12.5 китайский юань – Нержавеющая сталь (304) Стоимость материала: 500g × 0.09 CNY/g = 45 китайский юань |
| Быстрее, More Efficient Processing | Plastics are softer and easier to machine than metals, reducing processing time and tool wear: – Обработка с ЧПУ: Plastic parts take 30-50% less time (НАПРИМЕР., 1 hour for a simple ABS part vs. 2 hours for aluminum). – 3D Печать: Resin/plastic filaments have faster printing speeds and lower energy consumption than metal 3D printing. – Tool Longevity: CNC tools for plastics last 2-3x longer than those for metals (no frequent tool changes). | Lowers labor and tool replacement costs by 30-60%. | A complex curved prototype: – ABS CNC machining: 2 hours × 80 CNY/hour = 160 китайский юань – Aluminum CNC machining: 4 hours × 100 CNY/hour = 400 китайский юань |
| Simpler Surface Treatment | Most plastic prototypes require basic surface treatment (or none), avoiding high-cost metal processes: – Basic options: Шлифование (50-100 CNY/piece), oil spraying (100-200 CNY/piece). – No need for metal-specific treatments: Anodization (500-1,500 CNY/piece), гальванизация (500-2,000 CNY/piece). | Cuts surface treatment costs by 50-90% против. metal prototypes. | An external shell prototype: – ABS with oil spraying: 150 китайский юань – Aluminum with anodization: 600 китайский юань |
| Flexible Batch Options for Small Quantities | Plastic prototypes support cost-effective small-batch production without expensive molds: – 3D Печать: Идеально подходит для 1-5 куски (Нет платы за настройку). – Силиконовый дубликат: Для 5-50 куски, make a master prototype first, then copy with silicone (unit cost drops to 1/3 of CNC). – Metals often need die casting (плата за плесень: 2,000-8,000 китайский юань) Для небольших партий, increasing upfront costs. | Reduces small-batch production costs by 40-70% против. металлы. | 10 pieces of a simple shell: – ABS silicone duplicate: 10 × 50 CNY = 500 китайский юань – Aluminum die casting: 8,000 китайский юань (форма) + 10 × 80 CNY = 8,800 китайский юань |
2. Сравнение затрат: Plastic Prototypes vs. Metal Prototypes
To clearly show plastic prototypes’ cost advantages, below is a side-by-side comparison of common prototype types and scenarios.
2.1 Cost Comparison by Prototype Type & Сценарий
| Prototype Scenario | Пластиковый прототип (ABS/PP/PC) | Металлический прототип (Aluminum/Stainless Steel) | Cost Difference (Plastic vs. Металл) |
| Simple Appearance Prototype (1 piece, 10cm×8cm×5cm) | – Процесс: Обработка с ЧПУ + Шлифование – Расходы: 300-500 китайский юань | – Процесс: Обработка с ЧПУ + Шлифование – Расходы: 800-1,200 китайский юань | Plastic is 50-60% дешевле. |
| Complex Structural Prototype (5 куски, with internal holes) | – Процесс: 3D Печать (Смола) – Расходы: 5 × 200 CNY = 1,000 китайский юань | – Процесс: Обработка с ЧПУ (Алюминий) – Расходы: 5 × 500 CNY = 2,500 китайский юань | Plastic is 60% дешевле. |
| Small-Batch Functional Prototype (20 куски, не нагрузка) | – Процесс: Силиконовый дубликат (ABS master) – Расходы: 500 китайский юань (master) + 20 × 40 CNY = 1,300 китайский юань | – Процесс: Умирать кастинг (Алюминий) – Расходы: 5,000 китайский юань (форма) + 20 × 70 CNY = 6,400 китайский юань | Plastic is 80% дешевле. |
| High-Precision Prototype (1 piece, ± 0,05 мм толерантность) | – Процесс: Обработка с ЧПУ (ПК) – Расходы: 800-1,200 китайский юань | – Процесс: Обработка с ЧПУ (Нержавеющая сталь) – Расходы: 2,000-3,000 китайский юань | Plastic is 60-65% дешевле. |
3. Practical Strategies to Further Reduce Plastic Prototype Costs
While plastic prototypes are already cheap, strategic adjustments to design, процесс, and supplier selection can lower costs even more—without sacrificing quality.
3.1 Design Optimization Tips
- Simplify Geometries: Remove non-functional features like complex curved surfaces, тонкие стены (≤0.5mm), or deep cavities (>8mm). Например, a prototype with a single curved surface costs 300 китайский юань; simplifying to a flat surface reduces it to 200 китайский юань (33% сбережения).
- Relax Tolerances: Используйте стандартные допуски (±0.1-0.2mm) for non-critical dimensions. A prototype with ±0.05mm tolerance costs 500 китайский юань; relaxing to ±0.1mm cuts it to 350 китайский юань (30% сбережения).
- Avoid Over-Design: Skip unnecessary details like decorative grooves or custom logos for initial tests. Adding a logo via laser engraving adds 50-100 CNY—save this for final prototypes.
3.2 Процесс & Выбор материала
| Цель | Recommended Process/Material | Cost-Saving Reason | Example Cost |
| Lowest Cost for Appearance Tests | 3D Печать (Плата) | PLA is the cheapest plastic filament (~10 CNY/100g); fast printing speed. | 100g PLA prototype: 80-120 китайский юань |
| Balance of Cost & Долговечность | Обработка с ЧПУ (АБС) | ABS is more durable than PLA; cheaper than PC or engineering plastics. | Simple ABS prototype: 200-400 китайский юань |
| Small-Batch Cost Reduction (5+ куски) | Силиконовый дубликат (ABS master) | No need for repeated CNC programming; unit cost drops with quantity. | 5 куски: 500 китайский юань (против. 5 × 300 CNY = 1,500 CNY for CNC) |
| Complex Structures on a Budget | 3D Печать (SLA смола) | Resin prints complex geometries (Внутренние полости) без дополнительных затрат; cheaper than CNC for intricate parts. | Complex resin prototype: 300-500 китайский юань (против. 800+ CNY for CNC) |
3.3 Выбор поставщика & Bargaining Skills
- Choose Cluster Suppliers: Work with suppliers in Shenzhen, Dongguan, or Suzhou—these regions have dense plastic prototype factories, fierce competition, and lower prices (10-20% cheaper than non-cluster areas). Например, a CNC ABS prototype costs 300 CNY in Shenzhen vs. 360 CNY in other cities.
- Combine Orders: If you need multiple prototypes (НАПРИМЕР., 3 different shell designs), package them into one order. Suppliers often offer 10-15% discounts for combined orders (НАПРИМЕР., 3 прототипы для 800 CNY vs. 3 × 300 CNY = 900 китайский юань).
- Specify Budget Upfront: Tell suppliers your target price (НАПРИМЕР., “I need this prototype under 300 CNY”)—they may suggest material substitutions (НАПРИМЕР., ABS instead of PC) or process adjustments (НАПРИМЕР., sanding instead of polishing) to meet your budget.
4. Key Precautions to Avoid Quality Risks
Low cost should not come at the expense of prototype usability. Keep these precautions in mind to ensure quality while saving money.
4.1 Material Selection Pitfalls to Avoid
- Don’t Sacrifice Key Properties: Для функциональных прототипов (НАПРИМЕР., теплостойкие детали), avoid using cheap PLA (heat-resistant ≤60°C) if you need to test at 80°C—choose PC (heat-resistant up to 120°C) вместо. Using the wrong material leads to invalid test results and rework costs.
- Verify Material Authenticity: Some suppliers use recycled plastics (cheaper but brittle) instead of new materials. Ask for material certificates or test samples (НАПРИМЕР., check ABS flexibility by bending—recycled ABS breaks easily).
4.2 Process Quality Checks
- Обработка с ЧПУ: Ensure no burrs on edges (can affect assembly) and consistent wall thickness (avoid thin spots that break during testing).
- 3D Печать: Проверьте наличие адгезии слоя (no gaps between layers) and surface smoothness (critical for appearance prototypes).
- Поверхностная обработка: For oil-sprayed prototypes, inspect for even coverage (no drips) и адгезия (scratch lightly with a fingernail—paint should not peel).
Точка зрения Yigu Technology
Plastic prototypes’ cost advantage lies in material affordability and processing efficiency, making them ideal for early-stage design verification and non-load-bearing parts. Yigu Technology suggests businesses prioritize plastic prototypes for appearance tests, simple functional iterations, и небольшие партии (1-50 куски)—this cuts development costs by 40-70% против. металлы. При выборе материалов, match them to test goals: PLA for cheap appearance mockups, ABS for balanced durability, and PC for heat-resistant needs. For suppliers, cluster areas like Shenzhen offer the best cost-quality balance—their mature supply chains reduce lead times and rework risks. Окончательно, avoid over-optimizing for cost: using recycled plastics or skipping quality checks may save 50-100 CNY upfront but leads to costly rework later.
Часто задаваемые вопросы
- Can plastic prototypes replace metal prototypes for all scenarios?
Нет. Plastic prototypes are not suitable for load-bearing, высокотемпературная, or corrosion-resistant scenarios (НАПРИМЕР., auto engine parts, Промышленные кронштейны). Для этого, metal prototypes (алюминий, нержавеющая сталь) are necessary—their strength and durability justify the higher cost. Plastic is best for appearance tests, non-load-bearing functional parts, and low-stress applications.
- How much can I save by using silicone duplicate instead of CNC machining for 10 Пластические прототипы?
Silicone duplicate saves 60-70% в среднем. Например: – CNC machining for 10 Прототипы ABS: 10 × 300 CNY = 3,000 китайский юань – Silicone duplicate: 500 китайский юань (ABS master) + 10 × 40 CNY = 900 китайский юань – Общая экономия: 2,100 китайский юань (70% дешевле). This advantage grows with larger batches (НАПРИМЕР., 50 pieces save 80%+).
- Is 3D printing always cheaper than CNC machining for plastic prototypes?
No— it depends on complexity and size. For simple, Большие части (НАПРИМЕР., a 20cm×15cm×5cm flat shell), CNC machining is cheaper (300-500 CNY vs. 500-800 CNY for 3D printing). For complex parts with internal cavities or lattices (НАПРИМЕР., a prototype with small holes and curved channels), 3D Печать дешевле (300-500 CNY vs. 800+ CNY for CNC, which requires multiple setups).]]>