Value of an industrial designer

[Deleted21704]

I'm prototyping a product. Industrial, heavy metal, hydraulic...>90lbs. Manly stuff.

85% of it is already done. As in, most of it this new product is an off-the-shelf product I'm customizing. I bought this 85% piece yesterday evening.

The remaining 15% is essentially a piece of bent metal. Think about the letter Z with right angles instead of funky angles. That's it. That's all I need.

I called a couple of metal fabricators...they seemed to be more into connecting and repairing existing stuff (instead of fabricating new stuff...). The designers I spoke to either weren't interested, or if pushed, would probably charge me a FORTUNE.

My question: for anyone who's worked with an industrial designer, what value do they provide beyond abstracting the manufacturing process? I'm sure if push comes to shove, I could find someone to make me that piece of metal. But if I'm eventually going to be refining, packaging, and shipping this thing, might an industrial designer be worth a premium?

Or, since this is a prototype, is roughing it now and figuring all the other stuff out later on a better idea?

To add some context, this one piece will allow me to test the concept...i.e., take pictures, get opinions, figure out if it's worth launching. If it fails, I'll just use it myself! So no waste. Unless I pay a huge premium for it.

 

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[jon.a]

I'm prototyping a product. Industrial, heavy metal, hydraulic...>90lbs. Manly stuff.

85% of it is already done. As in, most of it this new product is an off-the-shelf product I'm customizing. I bought this 85% piece yesterday evening.

The remaining 15% is essentially a piece of bent metal. Think about the letter Z with right angles instead of funky angles. That's it. That's all I need.

I called a couple of metal fabricators...they seemed to be more into connecting and repairing existing stuff (instead of fabricating new stuff...). The designers I spoke to either weren't interested, or if pushed, would probably charge me a FORTUNE.

My question: for anyone who's worked with an industrial designer, what value do they provide beyond abstracting the manufacturing process? I'm sure if push comes to shove, I could find someone to make me that piece of metal. But if I'm eventually going to be refining, packaging, and shipping this thing, might an industrial designer be worth a premium?

Or, since this is a prototype, is roughing it now and figuring all the other stuff out later on a better idea?

To add some context, this one piece will allow me to test the concept...i.e., take pictures, get opinions, figure out if it's worth launching. If it fails, I'll just use it myself! So no waste. Unless I pay a huge premium for it.

In another life I was a welder in a fab shop. You can't find a small shop to bend or weld up a piece? Where are you?

 

[Deleted21704]

.

 

[Deleted21704]

In another life I was a welder in a fab shop. You can't find a small shop to bend or weld up a piece? Where are you?

I guess I was using the wrong search terms. I have no experience in this arena. I kept searching 'metal fabrication' and just called the top few that looked good. Guess 'welding' is more like it. D'OH. Seeing many more results now...chalk one up for sheer ignorance. Thanks so much! I'm just outside of DC BTW.

Guess I'll worry about industrial designers if/when I get to that point.

 

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[jon.a]

I guess I was using the wrong search terms. I have no experience in this arena. I kept searching 'metal fabrication' and just called the top few that looked good. Guess 'welding' is more like it. D'OH. Seeing many more results now...chalk one up for sheer ignorance. Thanks so much! I'm just outside of DC BTW.

Guess I'll worry about industrial designers if/when I get to that point.

Post pics, there may be more ideas.
You never know who has done what here.

 

[throttleforward]

Is there a TechShop where you live? You could do the prototyping or even production there yourself.

 

[ZCP]

Hit up a local engineer or consulting company. They can design / create drawings if needed and connect you to a fab shot to get the parts made.

If you just need a one off piece bent, go to a local metal fab shop with cash in hand.

 

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[Deleted21704]

Thanks for all the help!

Is there a TechShop where you live? You could do the prototyping or even production there yourself.

I had no idea these places existed...closest one to me is Arlington VA and looks like they just opened! Even if I don't use their facility for this, it seems like an excellent resource to be aware of.

Hit up a local engineer or consulting company. They can design / create drawings if needed and connect you to a fab shot to get the parts made.

If you just need a one off piece bent, go to a local metal fab shop with cash in hand.

Yeah that's what I'll probably do.