The Mark 1 prototype could be any or a combination of the following: a plastic, textile, metal, wood, mechanical or electronics prototype. It may focus on proving one or both of the following: form or function. Typically, this prototype would not be a visually attractive prototype!
This type of prototype will largely be built from bespoke parts from the agreed CAD model. ‘Off the shelf’ parts will be used where appropriate. This type of prototype should have improved functionality over the Mark 1 prototype and will be similar in form and materials to the final product.
Prototype Improvements will often take the feedback from trialling the prototype and make some minor amends before further detailed design work is undertaken. This can be used to mitigate risk and refine areas of the new product idea using the current prototype.
Beyond the Mark 2 prototype, it can be necessary to complete further prototypes to finalise the design and the development of a product. Normally this is only the case with complex products such as pushchairs or electric golf trollys. However, sometimes even small products will require further prototypes to refine the design before production.
This type of prototype will largely be built from bespoke parts from the CAD model. However ‘off the shelf’ parts will be used where appropriate and ideally these are the same components that will be used for manufacture. This type of prototype is used to confirm final engineering changes for manufacture before tooling.
This type of prototype will largely be built from bespoke parts from the agreed CAD model. ‘Off the shelf’ parts will be used where appropriate and where they are true representations of the final product. This type of prototype is unlikely to function as intended but will be similar in form, and materials to the final product.
If you’re looking to develop a new product or re-design an existing range but lack the in-house capacity or expertise to make it a reality, get in touch with us today to discuss your requirements.
If you’re looking to develop a new product or re-design an existing range but lack the in-house capacity or expertise to make it a reality, get in touch with us today to discuss your requirements.
At D2M, we offer a comprehensive prototyping service that can take your product from concept to market-ready in a matter of weeks. We work with you to understand your requirements and develop a plan that takes your product through each stage of the prototyping process, ensuring that it meets all the necessary requirements before going into production.
Our turnaround time for prototyping is fast, thanks to the advanced manufacturing technologies that we use. We will take your concept models and new ideas and employ our rapid prototyping process to get a functional prototype in your hands. From there, you will gain access to a whole host of benefits that are designed to aid you in your product’s development.
Our experienced engineers and designers will work with you to refine the prototype and make any necessary changes before it is ready for market. We understand that getting your product to market quickly is important, which is why we offer a fast and efficient prototyping service that won’t let you down.
Whether you take advantage of our rapid prototyping processes or our traditional prototyping services, you will benefit from having a pre-production prototype to review. The early stages of development and production allow you to evaluate the design first-hand.
We can then make the necessary adjustments to your concept until it’s right for your customers and fits your requirements. Some of our clients go through several iterations until they’re completely happy with the design and this is completely normal. We manage the approach to prototyping to minimize the cost while maximizing the opportunities to review and improve the design.
Prototyping also allows you to test your product in the real world. You can see how it works and how users interact with it. User interaction feedback is essential for making improvements to the design before going into full production.
What’s more, by having a prototype made, you can approach potential manufacturers with a product that’s ready to be refined for production. This will give you a significant advantage of reducing timeline to get to market and minimising changes for production. Prototyping also gives you the flexibility to adjust product development costs. Throughout your research and functional testing of your prototype, you might find ways to cut development costs, which will save time and money.
When your product is ready for mass production, sometimes these savings can be passed on to your customers, making your product more competitive in the market. The team at D2M are experts in value engineering to reduce your unit costs and ensure that your product is viable for cost effective mass production.
These benefits and more are why our customers trust us for all their prototyping needs. Let us show you why it’s an important step in product design and development.
At D2M, we offer both traditional and rapid prototyping services to suit your requirements. We understand that not all products are suitable for rapid prototyping, which is why we offer both services.
If you’re not sure which one is right for your product, our team can advise you on the best course of action. Our goal is to establish a plan that’s most beneficial to you and your clients.
Please get in touch with us today to discuss your prototyping requirements. Our team of designers and engineers are ready to help you bring your product to market.
We use inhouse 3D printers to produce plastic casings and small plastic products that are relatively simple. We have a fully equipped workshop for assembling plastic prototypes, spray painting and a range of 3D printers that can rapidly produce component parts in a range of materials including flexible elastomers.
Utilising our experience across a range of complex mechanical prototypes including use of: motors, valves, folding systems, pumps and cutting devices, we can create mechanical prototypes to prove the concept before refining into presentable prototypes that function effectively for testing the product with users before going into production.
In combination with our component suppliers with milling and welding capability, we have built various metal prototypes of frameworks for industrial products and also durable working components for small consumer goods.
We have worked in various different soft and hard woods on a range of size products from full-size furniture to smaller decorative items. We often combine wood with plastics, metalwork and textiles to create integrated solutions that are cost effective to manufacture.
We have a specialist fabric product development team and fully equipped textile workshop. Soft products like bags and clothing are often much cheaper to develop due to the relativity inexpensive production tooling costs. Find out more here: Textile prototyping
Having worked with hundreds of Start-Ups and SMEs we’ve learned a thing or so about getting a project off to the right start.
Don’t miss out on this invaluable guide to turning your idea into the next big thing!
Having worked with hundreds of Start-Ups and SMEs we’ve learned a thing or so about getting a project off to the right start.
Don’t miss out on this invaluable guide to turning your idea into the next big thing!
We’re all about helping companies, startups and entrepreneurs to succeed with designing new products.
Get your hands on some of our carefully crafted videos, pdfs and podcasts. If you want to successfully develop and launch a new product idea then click the images to discover more about these free, instantly available resources.
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Bonus 40min extended case-study video!