Author:Tina Yu
After a product is designed, some samples are made to confirm the structure, size and appearance, etc. These samples are referred to as "prototypes", and some people call them "first sample". Prototypes also has a title is "rapid prototyping", which means rapid production, shorten product development. Under normal circumstances, the prototype has the following purposes:
1. Verify the appearance, structure and functional of the product
According to the design drawing system, the real situation of the product can be directly seen from the prototypes. If you are not satisfied with the appearance of the product such as shape, color, material, etc., "it is good to draw and not good to make", you can improve it in time. If there are problems in the structure, such as interference in the assembly, difficult assembly, insufficient strength and hardness, and the mold structure will be too complex, which can be adjusted in time. In terms of product function, if there is a problem, such as failing to pass various tests, it also needs to be modified on the prototypes. In addition, when there are multiple options but it is not possible to determine which one is better, you can also make the prototypes of each option, and compare it with the actual object to select the best one. When all aspects of the product are modified and determined to be satisfied, the mold can be made for mass production.
2. Shorten the development cycle of product projects
Before each project is listed, a series of work such as market research, financing or activity plan should be done. If you directly make molds for mass production, in case there is no sales in the market, or the funds are not enough, or even the funds for mass production of molds are not available, it will lead to the failure of the entire project. In this way, you need to make a model first, take the prototypes to the market to do research, or to financing, so that the project will go smoothly.
3, quickly occupy the market
The mold production cycle is long, and the prototypes production only takes 2-3 days. In a short time to get the sample can apply for patents, trademark registration, participate in exhibitions, and to show to various dealers or customers to confirm for order, quickly occupy the market.
4, prototypes for small product demand
Some projects have a little demand, only dozens or hundreds of pieces of quantity, if the mold is made to produce them, the cost is high and the production cycle is long, thus the customer can't accept. By using the way of making prototypes, using rapid vacuum casting process, 3D printing, or CNC processing, or rapid mold, etc., you can make a variety of plastic or metal parts, which not only saves the cost but also the production cycle is fast.
Alec Model supplies various prototypes including metal parts and plastic parts, made by CNC machining, sheet metal working, 3D printing, vacuum casting, injection molding, etc. We invite you to send your projects to review.
