3D Printed Bottles
When a product’s success hinges on its visual appeal, especially for items like luxury perfumes or custom drinking bottles, a crystal-clear prototype is non-negotiable. At Malcolm Nicholls Ltd, we specialise in creating high-clarity 3D printed bottle prototypes that are visually and functionally stunning.
3D Printed Bottles
The Path to Perfect Clarity: SLA Technology
Our secret to achieving nearly 99% optical clarity lies in our use of advanced Stereolithography (SLA) technology. While a Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) 3D printed bottle is strong, its visible layer lines and inherent translucency make it unsuitable for showcasing a product’s true form. In contrast, SLA builds parts with a UV laser, resulting in incredibly smooth, transparent surfaces.
Large-Format 3D Printed Bottle Production
The size of your product is no longer a limitation. Our Neo800 SLA machines boast one of the largest build platforms, measuring 800 x 800 x 600mm. This capability allows us to produce large transparent bottles as a single, seamless piece, ensuring both superior structural integrity and perfect visual continuity. For projects that exceed even this impressive scale, our expert model makers can meticulously fabricate and finish multiple printed sections to create a flawless, large-scale 3D printed bottle that maintains its pristine clarity.
Replication: SLA vs. Vacuum Casting
When you need more than a single prototype for market testing, advertising or exhibiting, we offer two excellent options for replication:
- SLA Production Runs: Our large build platform enables us to produce multiple identical 3D printed bottle prototypes in a single build. This method is incredibly fast, allowing for quick design iterations and the production of a small batch of high-fidelity models, which is a significant time and cost-saving advantage.
- Vacuum Casting: For larger batches, vacuum casting is a highly cost-effective and efficient solution. We start with an expertly finished SLA 3D printed bottle as a master model. From this, we create a durable silicone tool that can produce your identical replicas. We use clear polyurethane resins that perfectly simulate the look and feel of final production plastics, making vacuum casting the ideal bridge between prototyping and mass manufacturing.
A Clarity Comparison: SLA vs Vacuum Casting vs FDM
Choosing the right manufacturing process is critical for achieving the desired level of clarity and realism in your prototype. While each method has its advantages, their ability to produce transparent, hollow parts varies significantly.
SLA (Stereolithography): The King of Clarity SLA is the gold standard for producing optically clear parts, including realistic hollow bottles. It builds objects from a liquid photopolymer resin, which when cured, can be meticulously post-processed to be nearly transparent. With meticulous sanding and polishing, SLA parts can achieve a glass-like finish with up to 99% clarity. The process allows us to build a solid, watertight part with no internal air gaps or layer lines. We can also use a soluble core support to create a perfectly hollow interior, which is crucial for a realistic feel and accurate representation of the final product.
Vacuum Casting: Excellent Replication Vacuum casting offers exceptional clarity, but its quality is directly dependent on the master model. By casting clear polyurethane resin in a silicone mould created from a finished SLA master, we can replicate its high-clarity finish. The vacuum ensures that the resin fills the mould completely, preventing air bubbles that would otherwise cloud the final product. This process is also capable of creating hollow bottles, making it ideal for producing small batches of parts with a consistent, realistic finish for market testing.
FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling): Limited Transparency FDM is not a suitable process for clear or hollow parts. It works by extruding molten plastic filament in layers, which results in visible layer lines and tiny air gaps within the structure. Even with transparent filaments like PETG, the final product will always be translucent or frosted, never truly clear. While FDM is excellent for strong, functional prototypes, it cannot replicate the optical or realistic properties required for bottles and other clear consumer goods.