Prototype tooling is a way of creating a prototype from a design or three-dimensional (3D) model; in many regards, it is the same as regular tooling. Traditional tooling techniques usually are used with prototype tooling, but 3D printing also can be used to form the prototype for some needs. While this is similar to regular tooling, there are differences in how the prototype is put together and its overall functionality. The tooling company is producing a small number of copies, so the per-copy rate is much higher than with regular tooling.
Tooling is a method of working with materials in which the materials are cut and shaped to make a specific form. For example, to make a screw, a chunk of metal is made into a cylinder and then a spiral is cut into the bottom half of the metal. In most regards, this is what prototype tooling is; the materials needed for the prototype are cut and shaped to make a prototype copy. Aside from functionality issues, another major difference between prototype and regular tooling is the output amount, because only a limited number of copies are made for the prototype.
