Time to read: 4 min
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is the ultimate stage to showcase innovative technology and futuristic designs. High-quality mockups are essential to captivate an audience and stand out in the crowded exhibition halls. Whether you’re unveiling groundbreaking consumer tech or sleek new designs, the manufacturing process you choose for your prototypes can make or break your presentation.
Here’s a breakdown of the top manufacturing technologies to help you achieve flawless mockups that will leave a lasting impression.
3D Printing (Additive Manufacturing): Fast and Flexible
Best For: Conceptual prototypes, complex geometries, and tight timelines.
3D printing is a go-to technology for creating intricate designs and fast iterations. Using materials like photopolymer resins, nylon, or even metal, 3D printing can bring your vision to life in record time.
3D Printing Advantages:
- Rapid turnaround: Ideal for last-minute design adjustments before CES.
- High detail: Modern 3D printers can produce smooth surfaces suitable for show-quality finishes.
- Design flexibility: Handles complex geometries and internal features that are challenging with traditional methods.
3D Printing Applications:
- Unique design elements for consumer tech.
- Early-stage mockups for user feedback.
- One-off or low-volume parts.
With post-processing techniques such as sanding, polishing, and painting, 3D-printed parts can achieve a professional, production-ready appearance.
CNC Machining: Precision in Every Detail
Best For: High-strength parts, precision-fit assemblies, and premium aesthetic finishes.
CNC machining delivers unparalleled accuracy and surface quality, making it an excellent choice for CES-ready mockups that need a high-end look and feel. This subtractive process works with metals, plastics, and composites, allowing manufacturers to create durable, realistic prototypes.
CNC Machining Advantages:
- Superior precision: Tolerances down to ±0.001 inches.
- Versatility: Works with aluminum, stainless steel, ABS, and more.
- Polished appearance: Milled parts can be anodized, polished, or powder-coated for a show-stopping finish.
CNC Machining Applications:
- Metal enclosures for electronics.
- Wearable device prototypes.
- Structural components that must withstand functional testing.
If you’re looking to combine functionality with aesthetic appeal, CNC machining is a prime choice.
Vacuum Casting Urethane: Low-Volume Production with a Polished Look
Best For: Small runs of plastic components that replicate injection-molded quality.
Vacuum casting uses silicone molds and urethane resins to produce highly detailed replicas of master patterns. It’s perfect for creating multiple mockups without the expense and lead time of injection molding.
Vacuum Casting Urethane Advantages:
- Cost-effective: Ideal for low-volume production.
- High detail: Replicates fine textures and complex shapes with excellent fidelity.
- Material variety: Simulates rigid, flexible, and transparent plastics.
- Ability to create overmolded parts relatively quickly.
Vacuum Casting Urethane Applications:
- Plastic housings for devices.
- Transparent components such as screens or lenses.
- Ergonomic models for handheld gadgets.
The ability to reproduce fine details with a polished surface finish makes vacuum casting a reliable choice for CES prototypes.
Injection Molding: Production-Quality Parts at Scale
Best For: Final mockups or high-volume parts that need to mirror production quality.
When your CES prototype needs to look and perform like the final product, injection molding is the gold standard. While upfront tooling costs can be higher, the results are unmatched for accuracy and repeatability.
Injection Molding Advantages:
- Consistency: Perfect for creating uniform, high-quality parts.
- Scalability: Handles larger production runs for distributing samples.
- Material diversity: Supports engineering-grade plastics like ABS, polycarbonate, and more.
Injection Molding Applications:
- Consumer product shells and cases.
- Functional prototypes with working parts.
- Presentation-ready models in final materials.
Injection molding’s ability to create high-quality, production-like prototypes can give your CES exhibit a competitive edge.
How to Choose the Right Manufacturing Process for CES Mockups
When deciding which process to use, consider the following factors:
- Timeline: 3D printing and CNC machining are great for rapid prototyping.
- Volume: Use vacuum casting for small runs and injection molding for higher quantities.
- Material Needs: CNC machining and injection molding provide durable, production-grade materials, while vacuum casting and 3D printing offer more flexible options.
- Budget: Vacuum casting offers an economical alternative to injection molding for low quantities, while CNC and 3D printing can help minimize costs for custom geometries.
| Manufacturing Technology | Speed | Volume | Materials | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3D Printing | 1-5 days | Best for low-volume or one-off prototypes | Wide variety, including plastics, resins, metals, and composites | $ |
| CNC Machining | 3-10 days | Suitable for low-to-medium volume | Metals, plastics, rubber | $$ |
| Vacuum Cast Urethane | 1-2 weeks | Ideal for small-to-medium runs (10-50 parts) | Urethanes, silicones, and some resins that mimic thermoplastics | $$ |
| Injection Molding | 2-4 weeks | Best for high-volume production (1000+ parts) | Variety of Thermoplastics (ABS, PC, PP) | $$$ |
Conclusion: Dazzle the CES Crowd
To make a splash at CES, your prototypes must seamlessly blend form and function. By leveraging advanced manufacturing technologies like 3D printing, CNC machining, vacuum casting urethane, or injection molding, you can ensure your designs are visually stunning, mechanically sound, and ready to impress.
At Fictiv, our mission is to simplify sourcing. Fictiv understands the nuances of these processes to ensure your mockups are CES-ready. With the right prototypes in hand, you’ll have a head start in turning heads and winning hearts on the global stage.
Don’t stress – check out these other tips for making sure your prototypes are ready to go before the show. If you’re tasked with sourcing prototypes in time for CES or another trade show, create an account and upload your part designs to get an instant quote and estimated ship date.
