Prototype Development of Products with Electronics

Prototype Development of Products with Electronics

Electromechanical Products: Do you have a great idea for a new product with electronics? Want to materialize your idea into a real product and take it to the market? Well, the first thing to do is to develop a working prototype. Prototype development of products with electronics is essential to test and try the products before introducing them to the actual consumers. So, where should you begin with the prototype development of products with electronics?

Prototype development of products with electronics is, no doubt, challenging and expensive. You also would not get the desired results immediately without a prototype. If you, however, break down the product prototype development process into manageable steps, it is possible to succeed with the working prototype.

Prototype development of most products with electronics can be divided into two segments – the electronics segment and the plastic case segment. Let us have a look at each of these segments.

The Electronics Segment

Developing a prototype of the electronics segment of your conceived product can be divided into four steps.

If you are well-versed with electronics or if you are a do-it-yourselfer, you can skip the first two steps. Otherwise, you will need to team up with a product prototype development company that is experienced in the development of prototypes for products with electronics.

Step 1. Create the Schematic

The first step in the development of the electronics segment is the creation of the electronics blueprint or schematic for your product. This blueprint states all the important details of building the electronics segment, including how the necessary components and modules are connected.

Which components are needed will also be specified in the schematic. A bill of materials (BOM) or associated list will be prepared, itemizing every electronic item.

Step 2. Develop a Basic Prototype

Depending on your project and your budget, you may or may not want to develop a basic prototype of the electronics segment.

To create basic prototypes for the electronics segment, you can use breadboards. Utilizing breadboards, you can somewhat crudely, but fairly quickly connect various electronic components. If your project requires advanced electronics, you may also use ready-to-use modules like the Raspberry Pi and Arduino.

Step 3. Design a PCB Layout

You will, at some point, require a production-quality prototype of your conceived product. To create a production-quality prototype, you will require the design and creation of a PCB (printed circuit board).

A printed circuit board is a custom-designed board that holds and connects all the necessary electronic components. Utilizing a special computer application, electronic engineers can turn the schematic of the electronics segment of the conceived product into a virtual layout. Designing a PCB layout is challenging because anything out-of-place can have a big impact on the performance of the final product.

Step 4. Fabrication of the PCBs & Assembly of the Electronic Components

After having a definitive PCB layout, you will need to send the layout to an electronics prototype development company for construction. Such a prototype development company will first fabricate empty PCBs.

After the fabrication of the PCBs, the next step is to assemble the various components on the PCBs through soldering. Most of the modern electronic components are minute and compact, making it very difficult to solder them manually. Therefore, a product prototype development company might employ automated machines to solder the compact and minute electronic components.

The Plastic Case Segment

Most products with electronics need some enclosure, and plastic cases are often the best choice. To create a custom-shaped plastic case for your prototype, you will need to utilize 3D printing or CNC machining.

Step 1. Create a 3D Model

You need to first design a 3D computer model of the required plastic parts. Unless you are proficient at creating 3D computer models, you will need someone expert for this step.

Even if you are capable of creating 3D computer models yourself, the computer software required to create definitive 3D models is very expensive; hence, it may be in your best interest to hire a 3D modeling expert.

Step 2. 3D Printing

Once you have the 3D model of the plastic case or other plastic parts, you can send the design files to a 3D printer for effortless and rapid prototyping. If you do not have a 3D printer, you can approach a prototype shop that offers a 3D printing service.

On the other hand, you can also procure your 3D printer. In the past several years, 3D printers have become cheap enough for personal use.

For the large-scale production of certain plastic cases and parts, however, a completely different technology is utilized. It is called high-pressure injection molding. Shifting a plastic design from a mere prototype to full-scale production is a complex as well as an expensive process. Therefore, teaming up with a plastic product manufacturer, that specializes in plastic product manufacturing with different techniques, will be a wise move on your part.

Product prototype development is vital. Once you have a working prototype of your electronic product development, you can proceed to get potential stakeholders, customer feedback, and a mass manufacturing partner. The path to success of a product with electronics is long, but it all begins with a product prototype.

If you need help with prototype development for products with electronics, then get in touch with GID Development Corporation. A new product prototype development company in California, USA, GID Development Corporation utilizes state-of-the-art technologies in order to develop precise product prototypes quickly and economically.

Aside from product prototype development, GID Development Corporation also provides product design, product development, and other product fulfillment services. GID also possesses the skills and knowledge of a plastic product manufacturer that helps them develop various plastic parts, components, and cases using different injection molding techniques.

Whether it is the design, development, or prototyping of products with electronics, products with imbedded software, mechanical products, electromechanical products, medical device products, or any generic or special-purpose products, GID Development Corporation will certainly “GET IT DONE!”

If you have any questions regarding product design, product development, or product prototype development, simply give GID a call. Currently, GID is offering a free 15-minute telephonic conference. So, just call Jim Grimes at 714-323-1052 between 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST.

Important Points to Remember During Product Prototype Development

Points to Remember During Product Prototype Development

The purpose of product prototype development is to shorten development times and to reduce the costs of product development. A product prototype is a working model that offers a much clearer picture of the system to be developed, but only if it is done right. Thus to help entrepreneurs develop a fully functional prototype, here is the list of some of the most important points to remember while developing a product prototype, and they are as follows:

Keep ready a potent prototype plan – Most entrepreneurs believe that a product prototype development is a linear process. Product designers come up with product designs, conclude the best product design, create a prototype, and test it before proceeding to bulk manufacturing.

However, the process of product design and rapid prototyping is much more iterative. Separated teams and departments in an organization ideates, votes on the most rewarding and transformational ideas, and everyone adopts an empathetic mindset to understand what customers actually require. In the process of new product development, the phase of product prototype development is all about failing and incorporating feedback on the go, so you can reach a profitable product at the earliest.

Keep the product prototype simple – While developing a product prototype, most entrepreneurs believe that they have to come up with an impressive prototype at the first attempt and then simply collect feedbacks before taking it to market. However, when they do that, they spend thousands of hours and dollars to produce something customers don’t understand or don’t require.

In design thinking, to develop a product prototype, you utilize the materials that are readily available to you. Utilizing simple materials to develop a product prototype helps you get the idea out on the table, without investing extra time and money. Creating a simple product prototype helps you gain incredibly valuable feedback.

Collect valuable, informed feedback – When you test your prototype, search for actionable ways to enhance it. Carry your product prototype to a wide variety of audiences, even if it is of low resolution or made out of simple materials such as pipes and cardboard, and explain it to them. If explaining is not enough, tell them how your product can be used. The sole intention of your prototype is to gather valuable, informed feedback that’s both negative and positive. Always welcome questions, comments, and new ideas for making your concept better.

Time to act on feedback – You have to keep your team on standby, asking them to pay attention to feedback and iterating it on the go. The valuable feedback that you received after developing a prototype will help you make a better product, or help you find out that your prototype is going nowhere. In both the cases, you stand a chance of delivering an improved product, which will be loved by your customers.

The ultimate goal of rapid prototyping isn’t to perfect your final product; it is to create ideas until you have cinched all the basic aspects. Then you can create a superior version to test.

A product prototype development allows you to bank on ideas and feedbacks in almost real time. Learning lessons from the failures and implementing them into to the process allows an entrepreneur to easily tweak and embellish a product with relatively low cost.

If you are looking for rapid prototyping services in the United States, then feel free to contact us at www.GIDCompany.com.

Professional Prototype Development Services in the USA

Professional Prototype Development Services

At The GID Development Corporation, we offer product prototype development services at its best with high accuracy and precision. We understand the importance of product prototype development in the process of new product development; hence, to attend the highest level of perfection, we use all the latest technologies and techniques to convert an idea into a fully functional prototype.

As an established and experienced product design and product development company in USA, the GID Development Corporation is dedicated to offering entrepreneurs and innovators with a single source for custom manufactured parts and products. With a focus on delivering value to our clients, we endeavor to modernize the product development process by offering the revolutionary rapid prototyping and product design service options all at one place. Our product designers and engineers are highly skilled and aim to deliver prototyping solutions that best-fit budget, time constraints, and manufacturing requirements.

Rapid Prototyping is one of the crucial steps in the custom product development; hence, it should be done right. Developing a product prototype on your own or with the help of a prototyping company will help you test your concept before you proceed to bulk manufacturing phase. Moreover, prototyping makes your concept a physical reality. A fully functional product prototype not only lets you test the functionalities, but also helps you impress your financiers and potential customers.

As an American product prototyping company, we are well aware of each-and-every traits of rapid prototyping. The GID Development Corporation offers multi-faceted rapid prototyping services, including selective laser sintering (SLS), stereo lithography (SLA), high-speed CNC machining and professional prototype model making. By applying the most advanced prototyping technology, our team of highly qualified engineers and designers is capable of meeting the most stringent requirements in terms of time, cost and precision in the development of product prototypes.

With more than four decades of industry experience, GID is the best choice that can help you to carry out rapid prototyping in the most professional manner. Our product designers can convert your concept into a working prototype that will help you to understand how your product will perform before starting the manufacturing process. Here at GID, you can get professional prototyping services, which help you get more accurate and a relevant product that fits business needs. We specialize in creating a prototype out of a wide variety of materials such as plastic, rubber, wood, electronics, fabrics, glass, metal, silicon and other available materials. For more information, contact us at GID Company.