Rapid Prototyping
Reduce design risks and accelerate speed to market.
Our automated design analysis on parts and quick-turn manufacturing processes streamline development by incorporating rapid prototyping throughout the product design, testing, and validation phases.
Leveraging Rapid Prototyping
1. Design Feedback
- Have physical prototypes in hand within days to quickly modify designs during early product development.
- Produce multiple prototypes at the same time to compare and iterate designs simultaneously.
- Reduce overall time to market with an iterative product development cycle.
2. Iterative Development
- Receive interactive design for manufacturability feedback with every quote to make early adjustments before prototyping begins.
- Talk with customer service engineers to discuss any design challenges and manufacturing questions that arise.
3. Design Validation
- Test the form and fit of components with small quantities of accurate 3D-printed and machined parts.
- Perform functional tests with prototypes manufactured in production-grade materials.
4. Market Testing
- Produce a pilot run of injection-moulded parts to validate market interest before launch.
- Reduce financial risk at market launch by implementing affordable aluminium tooling before full-scale production begins.
Risk Reduction
Speed to Market
Choosing a Prototyping Process
Each rapid manufacturing process comes with its own advantages and disadvantages during prototyping. From 3D printing to CNC machining to injection moulding, our white paper offers a technical analysis of the various manufacturing processes. It lets you weigh the benefits of each, so you can focus on a process best suited for your project.
Prototyping Award Winning Cutlery
This case study reveals how an award-winning idea to help people with shaky hands eat more easily was developed by Glasgow-based 4C Design and quickly brought into cost-effective production by Protolabs’ rapid moulding service.