Prototyping
Virtual Prototype is another form one may want to consider as a preliminary step to the actual fabrication of a material. It can be less expensive than prototyping. “Virtual” by nature is visual only. It can not be touched. It is an electronic illustrated file in CAD that can be photo real rendered and used in an animation, video or printed to provide the illusion that the product is real in the three dimension.
Materials, processes, technology, complexity, function, cost and time all affect which level of prototyping is possible and needed for any product development. So, be sure that the product design and engineering is complete prior to prototyping. Once ready, it must be selected which method is best to fulfill your objective according to the budget.
Shops may fabricate or “cut away” metal, plastic, composite and wood to produce highly accurate and precise parts by CNC Lathe, CNC Mill, Water Jet, Laser, Press Break and other like shop machines. Or rapid prototypers may “sculpt” or “build” by adding to, with the use of laser driven resin building machines that can produce SLA, SLS, FDM parts and products. Which ever the case, volume required is a key question one must ask as well of course, what is the objective or deliverable needed?
What is your objective?
- 1. Acquire Funding
- 2. Test for Market Research
- 3. Build a Prototype for Licensing
- 4. Manufacture for Distribution
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