Concept Development | Prototyping | Mechanical Design | CAD
From Idea to Functional Prototype
Inventor Johnathan Roberts wanted help making his idea into something he could use and test, so we created a functional prototype to demonstrate and test his invention.
What We Did
Proof-of-Concept Prototype
At the start of the project, the client knew what problem he was trying to solve and had a rough idea for a device that could help people get in and out of a vehicle, but wasn't sure how to get it to work. We started this project by building a simple functional prototype that was able to quickly embody his idea into something he could use and test. With something tangible that worked, we started to think about how it could be made into a real product and refine the prototype design into something he could show others and do real-world testing.
Ideation Sketches
We generated a lot of ideas for different features and mechanisms to explore how the device could work. We considered the structure and mechanics as well as the user interaction and touchpoints. We also started thinking about form, materials and fabrication possibilities.
Bread Board Prototypes
In parallel to the sketch ideation, we started building prototypes that were modular and easy to modify. We used these prototypes to test our assumptions and ideas and discovered things we had not considered. We explored variations on different mechanisms and user touchpoints as well as different materials and geometries. We then were able to combine the best features into a single concept.
CAD Modeling
Unlike the bread-board prototypes which were mostly hacked together from off-the-shelf parts, the final concept we created needed to be entirely custom. We used CAD modeling and simulations to design the assembly and ensure that the parts would be strong enough for a reliable, functional prototype. At this stage we also started considering how this could be turned into a production product.
Functional Concept Prototype
Using a combination of advanced additive manufacturing technologies and traditional metal shop skills, we created a physical, functional prototype of the product concept that the client was able to use to test with potential users and demonstrate to potential investors.
