How to Make Product Prototypes

 

There are different stages involved in product development. Before you begin production, you need to improve the design and make a product prototype. First, you need to determine the type of prototype you want. Are you going to use it for visualization, testing its functionality, or marketing? It is advisable to seek the help of a product prototype maker. That is because making a prototype can be quite expensive.

 

Steps for Making a Prototype

The process of building a prototype involves building different prototypes, testing, and refining them until you get one ready for production. You will find this process useful in making new products or where requirements are not well-known. Thus, the process is iterative in nature. These are the steps you should follow in making a product prototype.

 

Requirements Analysis

This is the first phase of product prototyping. You need to define your requirements for the product in detail. The supplier can interview customers to find out what they expect from the product. Therefore, market research can be of great help in this stage.

Rapid Design

This stage is also known as quick design or preliminary design. Ideally, it involves creating a simple product design. This is required to offer an idea of the product to the user.

Create a Prototype

The actual product prototype is made that meets the requirements gathered in stage one. This is a functional prototype of the desired product. You can use different methods to create prototypes. The common methods you can use are 3D printing (additive manufacturing) and CNC machining.

Sunrise Metal has enough experience in medical 3d printing. Welcome to contact us or leave your message, we will give you a reply soon.

User Evaluation

The proposed product prototype is given to the client for evaluation. This is an important stage that helps determine the weakness and strength of working models. Suggestions and feedback from customers and experts are collected.

Refining Product Prototype

Based on the evaluation process, the product prototype is refined to meet the customer’s suggestions and feedback. This process can go on until all requirements are met. When the user is satisfied with the prototype, a final version is made.

Implementation

After making the final product prototype, it is then inspected and tested before mass production. The prototype is regularly checked for further improvements.

Sunrise Metal Rapid Prototyping Service

Turning your ideas into a real product is not an easy task. You need to work with a prototyping manufacturer that handles the process smoothly.

If you are looking for a product prototype maker, you should not look further than Sunrise Metal. The company designs and makes product prototypes for startups, entrepreneurs, and large manufacturers.

You will benefit from the company’s flexible product development process. Ideally, you can partner with them to make innovative products for a wide range of industries.

Engineers at Sunrise Metal know that each project, innovator, company, and product is unique. As a result, they offer rapid prototyping services that suit your requirements. You can contact them for a consultation to help you determine the right service to help you achieve your goals.

Sunrise Metal is a China-based company that serves customers from all over the world. Their prototyping services include.

• Additive manufacturing
• CNC machining
• Rapid tooling

Thus, you can be assured that your ideas and designs are actualized as soon as possible.

As their esteemed customer, you have the opportunity to be part of the process by reviewing the design and functional prototype. Experts at Sunrise Metal will help you at every phase of product development. For instance, they can help you optimize your design and recommend the best production method.

Sunrise Metal has invested a lot of resources and knowledge in product prototyping. With an endless range of materials, including the common metal and plastic materials:

• Aluminum
• Stainless Steel
• Copper
• Zinc
• ABS
• POM
• PC

With the use of advanced rapid prototyping technology, you can be assured that your product development project is in good hands.

How is a Product Prototype Tested?

There are different ways of testing product prototypes. The method you should choose depends on the purpose of the prototype. One of the ways is the usability factor. In this case, you look for strangers to test your product and give you genuine feedback. The feedback helps you determine whether the product meets the desired requirements.

Product trials help discover design flaws in the product. It is advisable to use more testers to get a more accurate assessment of the product’s functionality.

What is the Cost of Making a Prototype?

The cost of making a prototype varies from one product prototype maker to another. Also, the cost depends on various factors, such as materials used, the method used, and the complexity of the design. Moreover, if documentation is required, it can increase the cost of making a prototype.

Since prototyping is iterative in nature, you will need to make different iterations before you can make a production prototype. You may need to spend more if you want to create a prototype for presentation to the investors.

What are the Commonly Used Types of Product Prototyping?

You should note that different methods are used to produce prototypes. The common ones used by product prototype makers are:

Stereolithography (SLA)

This is an additive manufacturing technique that applies UV light on a polymer resin to make it solidify. The good thing about this method is that it makes products that are clear and watertight.

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)

In this case, a powerful laser is used to fuse the powdered material like nylon into a 3D shape. The common material used with SLS is nylon. Thus, the resulting product prototypes are strong.

Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)

The process is the same as SLS but uses metal powder instead of a polymer. Prototypes made with this method are durable and can be used as functional prototypes.

 

How Does Rapid Prototyping Work?

Different manufacturing technologies are used in rapid prototyping. Although additive manufacturing is the most common, other technologies, such as die casting, extrusion machining, molding, and machining are used.

Other processes used are subtractive and compressive. In subtractive manufacturing, blocks of materials are removed to create the desired shape through grinding, turning, or milling. In compressive manufacturing, liquid or semi-solid material is forced or pressured into the desired shape and then solidified.