Prototyping

Prototyping is an extremely valuable part of the design process.  With a large number of different techniques and systems available, it can be applied to almost any stage in the process with varying cost dependant on what you require the prototype for. During the early stages of a project, you may decide that a physical model of your new product would be informative in giving you a good ‘feel’ for the concept.  This is often extended to a number of concepts, giving you a chance to pick them up and look at them from all angles, directly comparing them.  We have often used concept prototypes to establish true size and aesthetics as, on paper, products have a habit of looking bigger than they really are. As the engineering design stage progresses, prototyping can be useful for checking fit, form and function.  Because prototypes made at this stage are generally created using CAD data, they are accurate and informative.  Plastic prototypes can also be made from these, using tooling that allows replication for the creation of small batches of robust prototypes, often fully working, for field or consumer trials and testing.  They are also often used for photo shoots for product literature.  Because of the speed these can be created, they are available long before production parts are ready.