Did you know that by 2025, the rapid prototyping industry will be worth 2.6 billion dollars?
Rapid prototyping is a quickly growing manufacturing industry, and for good reason. It’s an efficient way to reduce production costs and improve the testing phase.
Are you still unsure why you should consider rapid prototyping? Keep reading to learn about the many benefits of rapid prototyping.
What Is Rapid Prototyping?
Before we talk about what rapid prototyping is, we have to answer the question: What is prototyping?
Prototyping is just the process of creating an initial, usually small-scale version of a product. This version can be used to test the design and efficiency of the final product.
There are two different types of prototypes: low-fidelity and high-fidelity.
Low-fidelity prototypes are sometimes known as mock-ups or sketches. These are simple, rough prototypes that give the basic idea of what the final product will look like.
High-fidelity prototypes are high-functioning prototypes that look and work as similarly to the final product as possible.
Rapid prototyping is simply the process of creating prototypes quickly through a process that looks like 3D printing. There are many benefits to rapid prototyping as opposed to standard prototyping.
Rapid Prototyping Makes Testing Easier
Rapid prototypings creates a high-fidelity prototype. This means that the prototype looks and functions in a manner nearly identical to the final product.
This works because rapid prototypings involves forming a model of the product using three-dimensional computer aided design (CAD). Once the prototype is produced, it can be tested easily in focus groups.
Reduces Overall Production Cost
You might be wondering, why would rapid prototypings reduce production cost?
Imagine if you invest in a low-fidelity prototype. This prototype will give a general idea of the final product, but it will be difficult to test. That means it will be harder to catch design flaws before producing the final product.
If the product has design flaws, you will spend even more money by going back to the drawing board and fixing the original flaws.
If you catch these design flaws right off the bat, you won’t waste money by returning to the development process late in the game.
What Are the Best Types of Manufacturing for Rapid Prototyping?
Rapid prototypings works by creating a three-dimensional, high-fidelity prototype.
You can accomplish this goal by choosing a manufacturing process that works like 3D printing.
If your goal is to produce ten or fewer prototypes, you might consider plastic CNC machining (Digital Computer Control). To learn more about plastic CNC machining, check out https://prototechasia.com/en/plastic-cnc-machining.
Take Control of Product Development
The success of a final product depends on the prototype. A failure to catch design flaws in the prototype stage leads to a waste of time and money later on in the development process.
That’s why you should consider the benefits of rapid prototypings rather than turning to low-fidelity prototypes.
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