When it comes to product design and engineering, prototyping is a fundamental step to ensuring the success of your designs and ultimately your project. While prototyping is an important aspect of developing a functional product, not everyone understands how it works or why it is necessary . What does prototyping really mean and how do you do it? If you have these questions about prototyping, you’re not alone. Learn more about prototyping and how to get started.
What is Prototyping?
Prototyping involves developing a 3D model of a proposed solution to experiment, test, or validate a product concept quickly, efficiently, and for a low cost. Prototyping can validate and/or challenge ideas and design theories so the product designer can make the appropriate changes to improve the design.
There are many ways to prototype. The direction chosen often depends on the design itself and what the end goals are for the project. Some of the most common prototyping methods used in product design include 3D Printing, CnC Machining, Injection Molding, and Casting. In many cases, prototypes do not represent the final design but rather the steps to arriving at a final design. While some people prototype the entire design, others do only certain parts of a larger assembly to evaluate the sub components and their viability in the final product. One of the best things about prototyping is that it allows you to create a visual history of your design in the physical world so you can see how your concept has evolved every step of the way.
Why is Prototyping Important?
Conducting research in the early stages of product design is useful but it may not guarantee that the product designer has all the necessary information. Many ideas seem perfect on paper but fall short when put to the test of functionality. Prototyping and testing are the best ways a product designer can be sure that a solution will work. Product designers can make prototypes in the idea generation stage to gain more insight into the end user’s experiences or compare between potential solutions.
Prototyping is all about bringing ideas to life. It’s great for uncovering the practical functionality of a product before the final execution. Prototyping delivers a more refined, more valuable product that is tailored to the original design specs.
Different Purposes of Prototyping
Prototyping can be done at various stages during product design. Just some of the purposes it serves include:
- Exploration
- Experimentation
- Problem evaluation and solving
- Understanding details of a design
- Design evolution
- Life Testing
- Material testing
- Process testing
Design Your Future with Kemperle Industries
Are you looking for help with prototyping in your product design process? Call Kemperle Industries. We specialize in the fields of Reverse Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Molding, and Manufacturing. Feel free to contact us today and we’ll connect you with one of our customer representatives.
