High-Precision Prototyping and Metallized Finishes: How Dreamplas Reduced Lead Times with DF2

Today, Dreamplas produces 10 to 15 prototypes per month using the DF2, adjusting output based on project demands. The combination of faster turnaround times, precise dimensional accuracy, and superior surface finishes has transformed their product development workflow.
Juli 24, 2025

< 24 Hours

Part Production and Validation

10 – 15

Prototypes per Month

< 1 mm

Tiny Functional Features

About Dreamplas


Dreamplas is a dynamic engineering and manufacturing company based in Marinha Grande, Portugal, specializing in the design, prototyping, and injection molding of high-quality plastic components.

By combining deep expertise in plastics processing with advanced additive manufacturing technologies, they deliver turnkey solutions, from initial concept development through to scalable production, with a strong commitment to quality and meeting tight deadlines.

Key areas of their capabilities include:

  • Industrial plastic injection molding: Producing complex, precision-engineered parts with consistent quality.
  • Product development and rapid prototyping: Integrating CAD design with in-house 3D printing to expedite design validation.
  • Turnkey project execution: Managing the entire process, design, prototyping, injection molding, finishing and delivery within tight timeframes.

This positions Dreamplas as a one-stop partner for companies needing reliable, end-to-end solutions in plastic engineering, from concept through to serial production, always emphasizing fast turnaround times and high precision.


Portugal

Engineering; Manufacturing

Prototyping

Then comes the material quality in terms of mechanical characteristics like tensile limits and stiffness, the printed prototypes are in many cases superior to the final injected plastic parts. It already gives a very good idea of the product’s functionality, especially considering that we’re working at extremely small dimensions.

– Carlos Carreira, Engineering and Product Development at Dreamplas

The Challenge: Lead Times and Flexibility

Before integrating 3D printing into their workflow, Dreamplas relied on subcontracting external services to produce prototypes. These physical 3D models were essential for presenting concepts to clients, testing assembly fittings, and validating mechanical functionality and aesthetics. However, this process faced limitations, particularly in lead time and flexibility.

The main challenge was finding subcontracting partners capable of delivering prototypes within extremely tight deadlines, often requiring parts in less than 24 hours, which was rarely achievable through external suppliers.

The Solution: Internalizing Prototyping with 3D Printing

Dreamplas adopted 3D printing to internalize its prototyping process, enabling faster production of prototypes, assembly fitting tests, mechanical functionality checks, and visual evaluations of models, including post-processed and metalized parts, to assess proportions, ergonomics, and aesthetics.

To support this workflow, the company selected the Raise3D DF2, a high-precision DLP (Digital Light Processing) 3D printer recognized for its outstanding surface quality, fine print resolution, and ability to produce functional, visually refined prototypes with or without additional post-processing.

Combined with Raise3D Standard White Resin, chosen for its mechanical strength, smooth surface finish, and versatility, Dreamplas achieved consistently high-detail prototypes, significantly improving over previous materials and meeting the demands of both client demonstrations and functional testing.

Hook Image - DF2

DF2

High Detailed Prints, Traceable Workflow

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