USP Class VI and ISO 10993 – what the standards mean in practice, which materials meet them, and how to... Continue reading
- Home
- Sectors We Work In
- Medical and Life Sciences Sector
Medical and Life Sciences Sector
QUICK LINKS
Material datasheets
Process datasheets
Request a quote
Matrix
Medical & Life Sciences Prototyping and Low-Volume Manufacturing
Medical device development demands more than standard prototyping. Materials need to meet biocompatibility requirements. Parts need to be traceable. And when a programme has a clinical milestone to hit, the supplier needs to deliver reliably and on time.
Prototype Projects has supported medical device and life sciences teams for decades, producing prototypes, test parts and low-volume production components for programmes ranging from early proof of concept through to clinical validation and pilot production. Our facility in Royston, Hertfordshire, is ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 accredited, and all work is carried out in-house, in the UK.
We hold USP Class VI-capable SLA resin in stock and offer micro 3D printing in a biocompatible, sterilisable resin that has passed six ISO 10993 biocompatibility tests. For programmes requiring metal or high-performance polymer parts, our CNC machining service covers PEEK, stainless steel, aluminium and acetal. And for products moving toward production, our UK-made injection mould tooling and low-volume moulding service supports the transition from prototype to pilot run.
Why medical and life sciences teams work with us
USP Class VI-capable SLA material Our Accura ClearVue SLA resin is USP Class VI capable – suitable for prototype parts requiring limited contact with the body. Parts are cleaned and packaged to our in-house protocol. No post-processing operations are carried out on USP Class VI parts.
ISO 10993-tested biocompatible resin for micro 3D printing Our BIO resin for micro 3D printing has passed six ISO 10993 biocompatibility tests, including skin irritation, sensitisation, cytotoxicity, pyrogenicity, acute systemic toxicity and in vitro hemolysis. It is suitable for non-implantable medical applications and can be sterilised.
CNC machining in PEEK and other engineering materials PEEK is the material of choice for many medical device components requiring high-temperature performance, chemical resistance and biocompatibility. We machine PEEK, stainless steel 316, aluminium and acetal as standard.
Micro 3D printing for small, detailed components Our micro 3D printing capability produces features down to 0.1 mm – relevant for the miniaturised, intricate geometries common in drug delivery devices, diagnostics and surgical instruments. Available in BIO and other materials.
Injection moulding for pilot production For programmes moving from prototype to production, we offer UK-made tooling and low-volume injection moulding in a range of medical-grade and standard polymers. Keeping toolmaking and moulding under one roof reduces the risk of knowledge loss between development stages.
ISO 9001 accredited quality management Our quality management system is independently accredited, providing the process control, traceability and documentation that regulated development programmes require.
UK-based, in-house, confidential All work is carried out at our Royston facility. Your files and part data are stored on our own server with encrypted cloud backup. Full confidentiality is maintained as a matter of course.
Services relevant to medical and life sciences
SLA 3D Printing: Large-format SLA in a range of resins, including Accura ClearVue (USP Class VI capable) for patient contact applications. Our SLA 750 machine accommodates parts up to 750 x 650 x 550 mm – suitable for device housings, system mock-ups and ergonomic evaluation models.
Learn more about SLA →
Micro 3D Printing: High-resolution printing for small, intricate parts. Available in BIO – a biocompatible, sterilisable resin with ISO 10993 test data – and other materials. Particularly suited to drug delivery components, surgical instrument details and diagnostic device features.
Learn more about Micro 3D Printing →
CNC Machining: Five-axis milling and CNC turning in PEEK, stainless steel 316, aluminium and acetal. Suitable for structural components, mechanical interfaces, test fixtures and functional prototypes where material properties and dimensional accuracy are critical. Tolerances to ±0.1 mm as standard.
Learn more about CNC Machining →
SLS 3D Printing: Functional nylon parts without tooling, suitable for housings, enclosures, brackets and internal structures within diagnostic and laboratory equipment. Available in PA2200 CarbonReduced, with overnight dispatch for programmes with tight timelines.
Learn more about SLS →
DLP 3D Printing: A range of materials including flexible, flame-retardant and high-temperature grades – useful for device components with specific material performance requirements
Learn more about DLP →
Vacuum Casting: Small batches of polyurethane parts in elastomeric or rigid grades, suitable for evaluation models and ergonomic testing where material feel and appearance need to represent a production-intent part.
Learn more about Vacuum Casting →
Injection Moulding: UK-made tooling and low-volume injection moulding for programmes transitioning from prototype to pilot production. Medical-grade and standard polymer options available.
Learn more about Injection Moulding →
Inspection Services: Dimensional inspection and inspection reports available alongside your parts – supporting quality assurance and design verification at every stage of development.
Learn more about Inspection →
Typical applications
We regularly produce parts for applications including:
- Drug delivery device components, including patient contact parts in USP Class VI capable material
- Diagnostic instrument housings, enclosures and internal structures
- Surgical instrument prototypes and ergonomic evaluation models
- Laboratory automation components and test fixtures
- Wearable medical device prototypes
- Microfluidic and small-format device components via micro 3D printing
- Pilot production parts for regulated testing and clinical validation programmes
Materials commonly used in medical and life sciences work
Selecting the right material is particularly important in medical device development, where biocompatibility, chemical resistance and sterilisability can all be requirements.
For SLA 3D printing: Accura ClearVue – USP Class VI capable, water-clear, humidity-stable. Suitable for patient contact parts, fluid flow models, transparent assemblies and drug delivery device components.
For Micro 3D Printing: BIO – biocompatible resin with ISO 10993 test data covering skin irritation, sensitisation, cytotoxicity, pyrogenicity, acute systemic toxicity and in vitro hemolysis. Sterilisable. Suitable for non-implantable medical applications.
For CNC machining: PEEK – high-temperature performance, excellent chemical resistance, widely used in medical devices and surgical instruments. Stainless Steel 316 – corrosion-resistant, suitable for instrument components and mechanical interfaces. Acetal – low-friction, dimensionally stable, commonly used in diagnostic and laboratory equipment.
For SLS: PA12 – strong, functional nylon suitable for housings, brackets and structural components within medical equipment.
A note on patient contact parts
Where prototype parts are required for limited contact with the body, we can produce these in Accura ClearVue – a USP Class VI capable SLA resin. Parts are handled, cleaned and packaged to a strict in-house protocol to maintain appropriate standards for patient contact applications. No post-processing operations (sanding, lacquering, painting) are available on USP Class VI parts.
For non-implantable applications where a biocompatible, sterilisable material is required, our BIO resin for micro 3D printing offers an alternative route – particularly for small, detailed components.
If you are unsure which material or process is appropriate for your application, please contact us before placing an order. Our team is used to working through these decisions with engineers at the quoting stage.
Ready to discuss your project?
Whether you are at early proof of concept or approaching clinical validation, our team is happy to discuss your requirements before you submit a formal quote request.
Call us on 01763 249760, email office@prototypeprojects.com, or use the quote form below.
Request a Quote
Please Note: requests for our 3-Day production speed must meet our 3-Day criteria. All final data for our 3-Day production speed is required by 4.30pm.
To request a quote for any of our other technologies/services, such as Vacuum Casting, Model Making and Laser Cutting, please complete this contact form.
Our latest news
Prototype Projects has achieved JOSCAR accreditation, the industry-recognised pre-qualification standard used across the defence, aerospace and security sectors. Continue reading
CNC machining, SLA, micro 3D printing or injection moulding – which process is right for your medical device prototype? A... Continue reading
Ahbstra's ARK presents a compelling solution to a real infrastructure challenge, particularly in environments where water is scarce. Our role... Continue reading
Moving a medical device from prototype to pilot production is one of the most risk-laden transitions in development. A practical... Continue reading
Prototype Projects will be exhibiting at Hardware Pioneers Max 2026, taking place at Excel London on 10-11 June 2026. You’ll... Continue reading
Discover how vacuum casting works, its benefits for prototype and low-volume parts, material options, and how it compares to 3D... Continue reading
Dimensional inspection and inspection reports for aerospace and defence prototypes — why it matters, what to ask your supplier, and... Continue reading
Choosing between aluminium 6082 and 7075 for aerospace or defence prototyping? This guide covers strength, weight, machinability and cost —... Continue reading