A prototype should accurately translate your invention or product design vision into something real and tangible. For less tangible products, like software, it should simulate the look and feel of the final product on relevant hardware device. Below we have listed are some key reasons to keep in mind when deciding to build a prototype:

1. A prototype helps validate the customer need and investor investment opportunity. I always hate it when I see startups invest thousands in technology before they validate their ideas in the market, only to find that customers seem to be looking for something slightly different. Test your idea early in a form that is easiest and least expensive.

2. A prototype will demonstrate to you and your team that your idea is workable. No matter how strong your vision and theory, you will know for sure when you see it function. Even the best ideas often need improving. Even when it works, most people on your team and investors may not understand it all until they can feel and touch it.

3. The prototype design will help enable you to change design as needed. In these days of rapid change many inventors might need to adapt it’s invention, business model or target customer base. A prototype will allow you to easily identify invention or product improvements before entering the expensive manufacturing process.

4. Prototypes help convince potential investors to take you seriously. Venture capitalists and angels are all about reducing risk. If you have a validated a working prototype, investment risks are dramatically reduced. These days, if you don’t have a proven prototype, investors probably won’t even talk to you.

5. A prototype will give you the opportunity for an early start on testing performance, materials and quality. Working with the prototype will help you determine the best materials, like metal versus plastic, to assure acceptable performance and durability. Don’t wait for the costly manufactured production model to find out that your product invention may need product improvements.

There is nothing wrong with starting simple, engaging a friend who does mechanical design, or a student at a local industrial design school. In fact, many universities have expert professors, graduate students, and laboratories in all the key technologies, and they may be happy to do the work for you, if they can use it for class projects and government grant applications. However the above process is usually much to public for most early stage inventors.

If you are ready for the next stage, it’s easy to find commercial prototype designers and builders on the Internet. There are new methods of prototyping, such as 3D printing, which allow plastic prototypes to be made directly from computer drawings, rather than waiting for injection molding at more than $10,000 per item.

Even at early stages, you can get invention support services from sites like Invention Home in Pittsburgh. Just don’t get carried away here, and remember that the invention process is risky, with only a small percentage of inventions or products succeeding on the market. There is no magic, so don’t spend all your money assuming that these companies will guarantee your success.

Don’t skip the prototype stage for all the business reasons listed, and because it is a great way to explore possibilities, and have fun using your creative juices. The prototype is where you really bring your product idea to life, for yourself, as well as for your investors, consumers and your patent attorney so the attorney may fine tune your patent if needed.

Different types of prototypes…

---

A message from the owner of Product Design and Prototype Experts:

I’m here to provide prototype service to inventors, companies and organizations interested in having a working prototype. I will supply you with expert prototype company services. I look forward to hearing from you.

We Provide Working Prototypes for Inventors and Companies

A working prototype is an early example, model of a product built to test a concept or process to be learned from or to show investors and marketing companies.

Working Prototype using 3D printing, fabrication and “off the shelf” parts is usually the best for building and developing real life functioning prototypes. Don’t underestimate the importance of a “Working Prototype”. Don’t try to cut corners by skipping the functional prototype stage and moving forward without having shown yourself and others how your product functions. As they say; a picture is worth a thousand words and a working physical prototype will help convey your seriousness and professionalism about your new product or invention.

More posts about prototypes…

---

A message from the owner of Product Design and Prototype Experts:

I’m here to provide prototype service to inventors, companies and organizations interested in having a working prototype. I will supply you with expert prototype company services. I look forward to hearing from you.

We Provide Working Prototypes for Inventors and Companies

The benefits and why you should have a prototype:
1) Fast and effective communication of design ideas.
2) Effective validation of design fit, form, and function.
3) Greater design flexibility
4) The ability to run quickly through multiple design concepts and corrections.
5) Fewer production design flaws and better end-products.

What is a Prototype; a first model or sample of a product from which more copies are developed and improved upon. Prototypes are usually built as models to test a product concept or process or to act as an example to be replicated or learned from.

Types of Prototypes;

Functional Prototype or Working Prototype;(also called functioning prototype) will, to the greatest extent relay the practical attempt to simulate the final design, aesthetics, materials and functionality of the intended design. The functional prototype may be reduced in size (scaled down) in order to reduce costs. The construction of a fully working full-scale prototype is the ultimate test of concept stage and is usually the final check for design flaws and allows last-minute improvements to be made before short-run, large or mass production runs are ordered.

Proof-of-Principle Prototype is a concept prototype used to test some aspect of the intended design without attempting to exactly simulate the visual appearance, choice of materials or intended manufacturing process. Such prototypes can be used to “prove” out a potential design approach such as range of motion, mechanics, sensors, architecture, etc. These types of models are often used to identify which design options will or will not work.

Form Study Prototype is a type of prototype will allow designers to explore the basic size, look and feel of a product without simulating the actual function or exact visual appearance of the product. They can help assess ergonomic factors and provide insight into visual aspects of the product’s final form. Form Study Prototypes do not usually represent the intended color, finish, or texture. Due to the materials used, these models are intended for internal decision making and are generally not durable enough or suitable for use for consumer testing.

User Experience Prototype invites active human interaction and is primarily used to support user focused research. While intentionally not addressing possible aesthetic treatments, this type of model does more accurately represent the overall size, proportions, interfaces, and articulation of a promising product concept. This type of model allows early assessment of how a potential user interacts with various elements, motions, and actions of a concept which define the initial use scenario and overall user experience.

Visual Prototype will capture the intended design aesthetic and simulate the appearance and sometimes color and surface textures of the intended product but will not actually embody the function of the final product. These models may be suitable for use in market research, executive reviews and approval, packaging mock-ups and photo shoots for sales literature.

---

A message from the president and owner of the company:

I’m here to assist inventors, companies and organizations with their Prototyping needs. I will supply you with expert prototyping service and solutions.

I look forward to hearing from you,
Anthony
We Build Prototypes