Manufacturers must constantly improve their products and be quick to market in order to thrive in today's fiercely competitive industry. Designers are under tremendous pressure to guarantee a successful launch due to the ever reducing product cycle time. Having worked as a die casting engineer for over 35 years, producing prototypes and low-volume castings, I have a profound awareness of the difficulties that designers encounter. Having a thorough awareness of the benefits and drawbacks of various process alternatives and how they affect the viability of your prototypes is crucial when selecting a prototyping option that will ensure the success of your program.