Creating a Prototype for Your Product

What is a Prototype?

There are a few different types of prototypes, the type of product you are creating will determine what type of prototype you will create, the two main types are an actual physical prototype or an analytical prototype.  Sometimes it is not possible to create a test product due to cost or feasibility so an analytical prototype must be relied upon.  

What is a Rapid Prototype?

A rapid prototype is a means of creating a quick version of the product out of several choices of materials available. The different types of rapid prototyping are, Stereolithography (SLA), 3D Printing, Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Fused Deposit Modeling (FDM), Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS), Ultrasonic Consolidation (UC), and Polyjet. They all vary in materials, and methods slightly.

What is a Rapid Prototype used for?

A rapid prototype is a mock up of a product, it allows you to test for looks, feel, fit, comfort, color, etc.  They are invaluable in the design process.  rapid prototypes are extremely useful way of allowing you to see the actual product without making a mold, many problems can be sorted out with multiple rapid prototypes rather than creating a mold first.

Who Manufactures Rapid Prototypes?
There are many companies that specialize in just rapid prototyping, depending on the type of machine used and the material the prices of the equipment can be very expensive.  Expect a rapid prototype to take anywhere from about an hour to 3 or 4 days depending on the size of the part and the machine used.