Prototyping a Product (Computer Model)

[Mikkel]

Inventing and reinventing a product is hard, especially if you're not an engineer!

So if any of you are anything like me, you want to reinvent(or invent) a product that needs a HUGE overhaul. You barely have the artistic skill to draw up the prototype by hand but god forbid, you were asked to do a computer mockup of the product(I laughed at the thought of this, at first.)

You decide, there is no way you can actually create this computer model so you decide to ask the manufacture to do this for you, with your already limited amount of capital. Of course you fear that they will completely butcher your first prototype, thus.... cash thrown down the drain.

Now, I wouldn't be writing this thread if I didn't have a solution!

Most everyone has probably heard something about 3D printing and I am fortunate enough to have a public library that got a grant to buy one of these really cool machines. So today I had the opportunity to print my first prototype for only $8 which is crazy, seeing that we were expecting to pay at least 10x that, while hiring someone to do the computer mockup.

Hey Mikkel, I don't have access to a 3D printer. What do you suggest then?

Well, my friend, you can still create a computer generated product online, for free! I have been sitting at my Libraries computer for less than 2 hours, and I have went from complete beginner to building my first prototype in that time. The great thing is that the online website I used is free. It's called Tinkercad (Admins, let me know if this link is okay. I'm in no way affiliated to them.)

I'm sure there is more complex programs out there, but my product does not use motors or anything other that wood, metal and screws so this worked perfectly for me. I am not sure how robust this program, but I can tell you that you can do quite a bit of cool stuff on here.

Also, I wouldn't be surprised if you looked around, that you could send you file to some 3D printer and have it printed and shipped for a relatively cheap price, it's worth a shot!

P.S - I just saw someone printing out a 3D Printed Bionic arm. They were telling me they needed a bit more to have it functioning, but that they have the ability to do this, on the website that I was just walking about. So, that's pretty cool.

 

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[miked_d]

You may also try reaching out to local schools for design help. My son took a design class last year that involved 3D design. His final project required him to take an existing object (an old Nokia phone with slide out keyboard), measure it and draw it in a CAD.

 

[B V Marlon]

For a more full functioned free (to a certain level) CAD system, which has a lot of the features of industry standard packages, like Solidworks, check out Onshape. I haven't used it personally, but have heard good things about it.

 

[Mikkel]

You may also try reaching out to local schools for design help. My son took a design class last year that involved 3D design. His final project required him to take an existing object (an old Nokia phone with slide out keyboard), measure it and draw it in a CAD.

I think this could be very benificial for myself. I know I live right next to a school that is a step down from MIT. I believe they would work with other people in terms of working on designs.

For a more full functioned free (to a certain level) CAD system, which has a lot of the features of industry standard packages, like Solidworks, check out Onshape. I haven't used it personally, but have heard good things about it.

I am not to firmiliar with CAD and all the terminology but I plan on diving a bit deeper when I start doing my 2nd round of prototyping. Ill definatky check out OnShaoe and see what they offer.

Technolgy is a beautiful thing. Its great to have all these tools avaliable!

 

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[B V Marlon]

Technolgy is a beautiful thing. Its great to have all these tools avaliable!

They've been available for years, it's the price that they are now available at which is the astounding thing. You can use Onshape for free up to a certain point - the package that I use has cost me the best part of $1200 over the years, and that's cheap compared to some of the others.

Technology is great, in a lot of ways I'm glad to be around now at the age I am, so can take full advantage of it.

 

[Mikkel]

I think it is incredible. If I had not found out about this, I believe I would be spending a couple thousand dollars, at a minimum, just for a prototype. Now I have the ability to make 2 or 3 solid prototypes, bring them to my manufacturer and ask them to make samples for us, using the correct material. There won't be any need for a computer design specialist to come in and fiddle with our product, sucking us dry of our capital. We have everything exactly how we want it, now they will just have to bring it to life.

Technology is great, in a lot of ways I'm glad to be around now at the age I am, so can take full advantage of it.

It is a blessing that so much innovative technology is around us. I can't wait to see what new things we will have available to us in the next 10 years!

I think the real problem is that people don't even know this option exists. I believe it lowers the barrier for entry slightly, but then again, ignorance plays a large part in producing products. Many people don't know this is an option, thus many people don't have the same capabilities.

 

[OldFaithful]

I'm glad you found a way to produce your prototype quickly. A big library with resources like that is quite handy.

Have you had any luck using your protos for show & tell with your manufacturer?

 

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[Mikkel]

I'm glad you found a way to produce your prototype quickly. A big library with resources like that is quite handy.

Have you had any luck using your protos for show & tell with your manufacturer?

As I write this, I happen to be at the library waiting for my second prototype to be finished. As of right now I have not used the prototype for manufacturing.

I found that prototyping this way has helped me get a better understanding of how the product will work. I found quite a few flaws in my previous design, so I went back to the drawing board and I made a better product.

My plan for this next month is to build 3 separate prototype designs, I can then send them to my partner out in California and we can decide which prototype we will be working with.

My partner knows a woodworker who does excellent work and will be making our prototype out of the actual material. Once this stage is complete, then we can talk with manufacturers in building the product.