Learn Where to Prototype your Invention Idea
Learn which options you have to prototype your invention and what are the advantages of each.
Prototyping of physical products have traditionally been limited to very simple mock-ups that you could do in your garage with available materials, or you had to go to expensive equipment and technologies. Nowadays technology for prototyping is evolving quite fast and you have more options to choose from.
To get started, the very first thing to do is to identify the purpose of your prototype so you can choose the right technologies and approaches to achieve it. Whether you are intending to test new technology in your product or looking to recreate the final aspect and aesthetics, or just some specific functionality, the approach to each of those goals is a bit different and obviously, the options available differ.
We recommend having a look at our article to learn about the 6 types of prototype versions that we have identified and the goals of each.
The second thing to consider is the characteristics of your product, meaning, which materials will be used, which technologies can be used to produce your parts and if you require some previous design of parts and functionalities.
Here is a list of the options you have to build your prototype:
Your own garage
This option is likely to be the least expensive and the one that will bring you more flexibility, assuming you have some basic equipment to do the job. Common materials that can be used to create your prototype can be cardboard, wood or Styrofoam. Today there are many economical 3D printers that could be of great help for your prototypes, you will likely pay off the cost really quickly, plus the flexibility it provides is priceless.
The downside is that there is a limit of the quality and finish you would be able to achieve on these prototypes so it is usually only an option for early prototypes and proof of concept versions.
Local MakerSpaces and FabLabs
There are more and more fabrication spaces appearing every day all around the world, especially in big cities. This is an excellent option to get your prototype done. Many FabLabs are free to use, and some just charge for the time you use their equipment. Some other MakerSpaces have membership fees.
They commonly have the main equipment that you will need to produce your prototypes (3D printers, CNC machines, laser cutting, electronic kits, and others) although don’t expect state of the art technology for your prototypes. They also offer support, training courses and other services.
Universities
In many cases, you can get in touch with universities and most have areas, similar to the fabrication spaces above (some universities even have their own FabLabs), where you can get help or use to produce your prototypes. If your product is interesting for the university they might want to offer support or collaborate in the project in some way.
Freelancer
One of the main things you should consider is whether you need to create a design for your prototype, either the mechanical design of enclosures and components or for any electronics. If that’s the case, and you don’t have the skills, you will need to hire someone to do it for you. There are many freelancer sites that you can check to find help (Upwork, Guru, Freelancer).
In some cases, they will be able to produce your prototypes if they have some equipment with them, or using some of the options described in this article. If the latter, the advantage for you is that you won’t be using your own time or be limited by your skills.
Professional Prototype-Makers
A more traditional approach is looking for some local prototype maker supplier (ThomasNet). They will be able to develop a high-quality prototype as they have advanced rapid prototyping technologies. This is a good option if you are making a more mature prototype closer to mass production or intended to be presented to investors or trade shows. Based on your product you may want to choose the right supplier, some prototype suppliers specialize in different categories, such as hardware products, medical products or soft goods.
Alternatively, you can find prototype suppliers abroad (Alibaba), however, the communication difficulties and shipment time and costs make that option less attractive.
On-demand online services
Lastly, what I think is a good compromise between quality and costs and with more options available every day is on-demand services online (Shapeways, Protolabs, Macrofab (Electronics)). They offer an easy to use interface where you can order your prototype parts from a variety of technologies to fit your needs.
In most cases, you still need to make all the work before being able to use their services, although some of them offer design services if you need them.
As you can see there are several options for you to build your prototype. Choosing what is right for you will depend on your own level of skills, budget and how much time you are able to dedicate. Hopefully there is an option that is right for you, otherwise, let us know what are you struggling with.
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Abilista guides innovators to develop their product ideas from concept, prototyping and all the way to manufacturing following our own step by step framework. We are already helping several entrepreneurs and startups to build their ideas by giving them access to simple and agile tools and expertise on-demand.
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