What is the typical lead time for LED lighting prototype development?
What Is the Typical Lead Time for LED Lighting Prototype Development?
Overview of Prototype Development for LED Lighting
LED lighting components often require fast development cycles, especially for custom fixtures, architectural installations, and commercial-grade luminaires. Prototyping lead times depend on the complexity of the design, material selection, surface finishing, and integration of thermal or optical features. Aluminum die casting is ideal for achieving functional, aesthetic, and thermal performance in a single prototype.
Standard Lead Time for Die Cast LED Prototypes
For aluminum die cast LED lighting parts, Neway typically delivers prototypes within 12 to 18 working days after final design confirmation. The timeline includes:
Design review and DFM support: 1–2 days
Soft tooling preparation or CNC programing: 3–5 days
Die casting or CNC machining of prototype: 5–7 days
Surface finishing (anodizing, painting, or powder coating): 2–3 days
Quality inspection and packaging: 1–2 days
For simple parts or housings without surface treatment, prototypes can be expedited to 7–10 working days using rapid prototyping with standard materials like ADC12.
Factors That Influence Prototype Lead Time
Part complexity and wall thickness
Number of required components or sets
Inclusion of secondary machining or heat sinks
Surface finish type and coating requirements
Functional assembly or component integration
Neway provides detailed timing proposals based on the confirmed design and alloy selection, such as A360 or AlSi12, both commonly used in LED thermal housings.
Full-Service Prototyping Support from Neway
Neway supports LED lighting developers with:
Fast-turn aluminum die casting for functional lighting parts
Precision tool and die making or direct machining for one-off parts
Aesthetic and performance-ready finishing via post-processing
Integrated engineering support for optical, thermal, and housing requirements
