by Brian Gates, Design My Idea President at Design My Idea

There are two things that are most commonly asked for by inventors as soon as an idea is conceived.

How do I get a patent and where do I get a prototype?

Most inventors, when they think of a prototype, envision a consumer ready product with proper materials, finishes and quality. While this would be ideal it is not required to get your product into the market place by any means.

Achieving a production quality prototype is very costly and usually is not worth the expense for the average inventor. You would be better off saving the money for future expenses in either marketing or production as these will require just as much expense if not more.

So what makes a prototype a prototype and what should I be seeking as an inventor?

A prototype is a device that proves either a concept works or doesn’t. The materials, appearance or quality of a prototype are second to proving the concept valid, which should be your main goal. Get a prototype which proves that the idea works and then focus your energies on fine turning the design for production or seeking a licensor.

But I thought I needed a high quality prototype in order for someone to purchase the idea?

As we have seen through the years, a rough prototype with proper images of a consumer ready product are just as good if not better than having a high quality prototype. The rough prototype proves the concept while the conceptual images present the product in the best possible light. Companies who are looking to license the product will inevitably review the engineering of the design and make adjustments for design reasons, production needs or safety concerns regardless of how great the idea is.

Design My Idea has the ability to produce a functional prototype and supporting imagery that will present your product in the best possible light. We have seen this through our work with licensing companies, inventors and businesses that use this same development to speed their products to market.

Ok, but I still want a prototype. How do I get one?

Prototypes can be made by companies like ours or in your garage; it all really depends on your capabilities and the product. Below are some things to keep in mind when getting a prototype:

• Plastic Prototype – Typically these are developed using a Rapid Prototyping method and require 3D CAD files in order to produce a part. Design My Idea offers a turnkey solution for getting your idea into 3D and producing parts using several popular rapid prototyping methods.

• Metal Prototype – This may require welding, bending and cutting of metal in order to produce your parts. If the design requires cutting shapes out of sheets of metal, then a water jetting method would be recommended (Design My Idea can provide you with these parts). The cost is minimal and results in a reproducible part via the use of CAD models.

  Another option is to do a rapid cast of the product which will create 3D shapes similar to that of a plastic part only out of metal. The rapid casting method requires a 3D model in order to produce the part.

• Fabric Prototype – Requires a pattern to be developed which will allow for the final design to be reproducible. A good seamstress or Design My Idea will be able to help you with the creation of your idea and pattern development.

What should I expect to receive?

If using a rapid prototype, expect the parts to be either brittle or have a stair stepped finish on curved surfaces. These parts can be fine tuned either using a more expensive process or part refinement after producing the unit. While these parts may look similar to the intended design, the overall functionality and appearance may not be comparable to a mass production piece.

The same can be said for any handmade prototype whether plastic, metal or fabric.

For more information on the types of rapid prototyping for plastics ready this article.