Functional prototype is one of the most important steps

Rapid prototyping is a technology which considerably speeds up the iterative product-development process. The production line requires a huge capital cost when developing a new product and mold manufacturing also takes quite a long time. A working prototype is needed at the early stage of design for design evaluation and troubleshooting.

Traditionally, it is challenging that design teams have struggled to create ad hoc models that provide an effective basis for specific concepts. This requires almost the same processes, costs, tools, and settings as the final product.

Making prototypes is a risky step for many inventors, designers, and organizations. Furthermore, it can be very difficult to produce a single complicated part with conventional manufacturing operations. While waiting for a prototype to be prepared, facilities and staff still generate costs. In contrast, rapid prototyping provides engineers, designers, and development teams with unique advantages. Time and cost efficiency not only make the team no longer confined to product visualization, but can also achieve product functionality.

Functional prototypes are one of the most important steps in the design process. Many companies overlook the need for this simple step due to the cost involved. But the simple reality is that building functional prototypes is much cheaper than direct molding for mass production. It is unwise to go straight to manufacturing by skipping the functional prototype without showing your product features to consumers. Prototyping offers several benefits and you cannot replace them with others.

1. Bring Designs to Life: Functional prototypes give you the opportunity to show investors and customers how your products might work. It gives you the opportunity to explore ideas and get some feedback to know how to adjust before actually getting the product to market.

2. Select And Evaluate Materials: When you start using materials, you may worry that they won’t work as you expect. Functional prototypes give you an opportunity to understand the performance of certain materials before they execute the final decision. Almost all materials can be used through one or more rapid-prototyping operations. Polymers are the most commonly used material today for workpieces, followed by metals. Moreover, new processes are being introduced continually, and the existing improved process and materials also can better realize the function of the prototype.

3. Accelerate Time to Market: In a competitive marketplace, it is well known that introducing a new product earlier than competitors is generally more profitable and can bring a large share of the market. At the same time, there are important concerns regarding the high-quality products to market quickly. Functional prototypes can give you an advantage on time because they can reduce errors and help you better evaluate customers’ ideas for your design.