Depending on where you are in the rapid prototyping manufacturing process, certain factors will be more important than others. A prototype manufacturing company that follows these guidelines can help you prototype your product quickly and economically.

You can divide the prototyping process into five stages:

1. Concept Model
2. Assembly or Fit Testing
3. Functional Testing
4. Life Testing
5. Regulatory Testing

Depending on your product, you may not need to hit all five stages, or even to hit them in the sequence listed here. However, you should consider the different requirements of each stage that need to be taken into account when selecting a prototype process.

Concept Model Stage

In this stage, you create a physical representation of an idea to show it to others. Concept models allow people from different parts of the company to visualize your concept and find ways to improve it. They may also be useful for trade shows to get consumer feedback, or to show to potential investors to gather information about how sellable your design really is.

In the concept model stage, the critical factors are:

  • Speed – How quickly can your digital idea become a physical property
  • Appearance – The model’s visual features (color, size, or texture)

Assembly or Fit Evaluation Stage

This is the stage when you create some or all the components of an assembly to best represent the final “working” design. You are testing to see if the parts fit together well. This stage looks for big design flaws, as well as small differences between dimensions and tolerances. The prototype manufacturing company should consider the materials and processes that will be used for manufacturing, so you can determine how easy your item will be to manufacture and identify any changes if needed.

In the assembly or fit testing stage, the two most important factors are:

  • Fit – How well the pieces conform together
  • Form – Does the model’s shape and size meet the intended need

Functional Testing Stage

The Functional Testing stage examines how a component or assembly works. The model goes through a series of stress tests. This is to see what you should expect in its real-world application.

Depending on the product, functional testing may include any or all of the following:

  • Chemical resistance – How the prototype will react to different chemicals
  • Mechanical properties – The strength of the prototype
  • Electrical properties – The electrical function of the prototype
  •  Thermal properties – How the prototype will react to changes in temperature
  • Optical properties – How well the prototype reflects and transmits light

Life Testing Stage

In this stage, you are testing to see how the prototype will hold up over time. This stage can include environmental factors, such as humidity, heat, cold, and wind. This can be particularly important for rapid prototyping 3d printing in automotive industry, but applies, at least in part, to most industries.

In the life testing stage, the most important factors are:

  •  Mechanical properties – The strength of the prototype
  • Aging properties – How well the prototype resists wear and tear
  • UV resistance – How well the prototype resists ultraviolet light

Regulatory Stage

In the regulatory stage, the prototype must meet safety and compliance requirements. If your product needs to demonstrate regulatory compliance, some testing may be done with prototype models (although some regulations may require manufactured parts to verify the results).

In this stage, one or more of the following factors may be considered:

  • Flammability – How likely the prototype is to ignite and burn
  • EMI-RFI – The ability of the prototype to resist or conduct electromagnetic and radiofrequency interference
  • Food Rating – How the prototype will react with food
  • Bio-compatibility – How well the prototype will interact with living tissue
  • Compliance with Federal safety standards – crashworthiness, lighting specifications, etc.

Find a Reliable Rapid Prototyping Manufacturing Partner

When going through the stages of prototype design, you need a prototype manufacturing company that can address your specific needs.

Globaltech Ventures specializes in rapid prototyping in the automotive industry and rapid prototyping manufacturing. We can help you get your concept from inception to market in a fraction of the time. Contact us today to start.