What Role Does Prototyping Play in Product Development for Manufacturing?

Prototyping is a critical phase in product development for manufacturing that bridges the gap between digital designs and physical reality. It enables validation, testing, and refinement before investing in production tooling.

Types of Prototypes:

Concept Prototypes (Looks-Like):

• Visual appearance models
• Foam, clay, or 3D printed
• Validate aesthetics and ergonomics
• User feedback and focus groups
• Marketing and investor presentations

Functional Prototypes (Works-Like):

• Validate mechanical functionality
• Test performance and durability
• May use different materials than production
• Engineering validation and iteration

Engineering Prototypes (Looks-Like + Works-Like):

• Near-production appearance and function
• Comprehensive testing and validation
• User testing and feedback
• Regulatory testing and certification

Pre-Production Prototypes:

• Made using production processes (soft tooling)
• Production materials and methods
• Final validation before hard tooling
• Pilot production runs

Prototyping Technologies We Use:

• 3D Printing (FDM, SLA, SLS, MJF) – Fast iteration, complex geometries
• CNC Machining – Precision metal and plastic parts
• Vacuum Casting – Short-run production-like plastic parts
• Soft Tooling – Low-volume injection moulded parts
• Sheet Metal Prototyping – Laser cutting, bending, welding