Form
Shape, proportions, handling and appearance.
Prototyping & Validation
Build prototypes to answer a question.
A prototype should reduce a defined uncertainty. Its material, process and level of finish need to serve the question being tested, rather than imitate a finished product without a validation purpose.
A prototype needs a questionWhat do you need
What do you need
to learn from the build?
Use appearance models for form reviews, fit models for interfaces, and functional builds for operation or assembly questions. 3D printing can accelerate an iteration, but its process and material limitations need to be recorded.
Fit
Interfaces, clearances, access and assembly.
Function
Operation and the performance being investigated.
Build → inspect → decide.
Define the test before the build
Specify what will be inspected or tested, the setup, the acceptance criteria and who will review the result. Identify where a prototype differs from the intended production design so a successful trial is not overinterpreted.
Close the iteration loop
Record observations, failures and deviations against the reviewed revision. Decide which findings need a design change, another prototype or a production-process trial. Keep the next build focused on unresolved risks.
A functional prototype does not establish production repeatability. Tooling, production materials and process variation need their own verification.
Useful starting inputs
- CAD or sketches and the question to test
- Mating parts, sample assemblies or interface dimensions
- Expected use conditions and pass/fail criteria
What to retain from a trial
- Prototype build and validation plan
- Form, fit and function findings linked to revisions
- Iteration decisions and remaining production risks
Areas of support
- Functional Prototypes
- 3D Printing
- Form / Fit / Function Validation
- Prototype Iteration
Start a conversation
What do you have? What needs to happen next?
Tell us about your product, the work already done and the problem you want to solve. You do not need to know which service to ask for.
Discuss your project