164: The 3 Prototyping Phases for New Product Development

Mock Prototype / Rough Prototype

Costs are relatively low to iterate and for parts

Focus on big picture items, not the details, is key in a first prototype

You can even have a series of rough prototypes or prototype parts to test a number of different things

Mechanical / Functional Prototype

You can do pieces of a prototype either in tandem, or linear,

Mechanical test prototypes use more complex parts, so it requires more advanced prototyping parts so that you can much closer mimic the final production mechanics parts.

Even if costly, in the end, you are solving the problem.

You cannot go to production without going into proper prototyping.

There is a tremendous amount of value in building mechanical features that closely represent the manufactured product, so that you can perfect those mechanical design elements.

Refined / Presentation Prototype

A final prototype is usually used by hardware startups for selling, but also for manufacturing.

Manufacturers need to have the product fully vetted out in order to get a reliable manufacturer to take on the project.

Iteration in produce development is very important