Defense Rapid Prototypes

Highly detailed and accurate scale models of military vehicles and armaments

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Rapid Prototyping Services For The Ministry Of Defence

The very nature of the requirements for MOD can make enormous demands on the physical properties and strengths of the intended production materials. The combination of ultra-strong, ruggedized materials and the ability to make customised manufacturing cost effective has made 3D printing popular for high-end equipment manufacturers in the defence sector.

Established over 50 years ago, Malcolm Nicholls Limited (MNL) supplies highly detailed and accurate scale models of military vehicles and armaments to the defence sector. Whilst MNL are still supplying clients at the forefront this sector, MNL also provides engineering solutions to design projects requiring physical prototypes for test evaluation such as engineering models, training aid models, ruggedized prototypes, functional prototypes and devices, and Low-volume production-grade parts.

Stringent testing is essential for any equipment that must perform in the toughest and demanding environments. Likewise, product development in this field can often involve sensitive information and this demands total confidentiality, which MNL guarantees unequivocally. MNL has the capabilities and technology all in-house for creating prototypes and devices for clients at the vanguard of the MOD / Defence / Security sectors.

MNL’s 50 years of experience and expertise are artfully combined alongside traditional craft skills with state-of-the-art additive manufacturing technologies, low vol that are most suitable to the job at hand. As the company has evolved and upgraded its technology base and material options, MNL can also offer low-volume production runs, with options that do not require expensive tooling.

Utilising in-house advanced manufacturing systems, MNL also provide engineering solutions to design projects requiring physical prototypes for testing and performance evaluation.

With experience and understanding of the Defence and Security sectors, and having all these capabilities within a single company, allows MNL to be your secure and reliable ‘single source solution’ for all of your prototyping and promotional requirements.

MOD Prototype Success Stories

1.8 Metre Long Type 45 Destroyer Established 40-plus years, Malcolm Nicholls Limited (MNL) supplies highly detailed and accurate scale models of military vehicles and armaments to the defence sector.
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Complex Investment Casting in Aluminium from 3D Printed Wax Stringent testing is essential for any equipment that must perform in the toughest and demanding environments. Likewise, product development in this field can often involve sensitive information and this demands total confidentiality, which MNL guarantees unequivocally. MNL has the capabilities and technology all in-house for creating prototypes and devices for clients at the vanguard of the MOD / Defence / Security sectors.
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Scale Presentation Model in Cast Brass MNL’s 40-plus years of experience and expertise are artfully combined alongside traditional craft skills with state-of-the-art additive manufacturing technologies that are most suitable to the job at hand. As the company has evolved and upgraded its technology base and material options, MNL can also offer low-volume production runs, with options that do not require expensive tooling.
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      Our prefered file format is compressed stl files [.mgx]. For the StlZip utility to produce mgx files click here.

      For a full list of acceptable formats click here. Only ONE file at a time; for multiple parts please zip into one file.

      Subscribe me to the mailing list; we won't bombard you with tons of spam, honest. Just the odd news, or general marketing email :-)

      Upon Successful upload of your data, you will be emailed a tailored enquiry form to complete and return. You will be able to confirm/append your requirements in full including the desired process, materials, colours, finish, quantities etc.