Why is prototyping important?

Prototyping is a critical, non-negotiable step in the engineering design process. It involves creating a preliminary model of a product to test a concept or process. By building a prototype, engineers and designers can explore design alternatives, test theories, and confirm performance prior to starting production of a new product.

This phase minimizes risk by identifying design flaws, ergonomic issues, or assembly challenges early, which can be corrected at a much lower cost than if they were discovered during manufacturing tooling. It also provides a tangible product for user feedback, stakeholder presentations, and marketing purposes.

We use various prototyping methods, from low-fidelity 3D prints for shape validation to high-fidelity CNC machined functional prototypes that mimic final production materials.