Frequently Asked Questions

RPE stands for rapid prototyping and engineering. Our RPE center is equipped with the latest technologies, tools, and materials to provide rapid iteration solutions. Manufacturing methods include molding, extrusion, and additive manufacturing.

Our RPE center has all the technologies required to quickly manufacture prototypes to test the viability of a design, which speeds up production and shortens time to market. Other benefits are design for manufacturing, proof-of-concept studies, and fast turnaround—even for complex requests.

Too often manufacturers can only create non-functional or prototype-only parts from limited materials using additive manufacturing. Spectrum has developed technologies that allow end-use parts out of the same production materials commonly used in tubing and catheter manufacturing. Unlike other suppliers, Spectrum uses proprietary AM technologies to process all medical-grade thermoplastic materials. These include nylon, Pebax®, polypropylene, polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polylactic acid (PLA), PEEK, polyetherketone (PEK), high impact polystyrene (HIPS), urethanes, and custom materials. We can handle a wide variety of requests, ranging from "napkin-sketch" to highly detailed and specific designs. Customers benefit the most when AM properties are evaluated with quick iterations early in the design process.