Prototype Design and Manufacture
A prototype earns its cost by telling you something you did not know. Innovat3D designs and manufactures functional prototypes so ideas can be tested, handled and refined before committing to production.
Design and manufacture sit together, so each iteration feeds straight back into the CAD.
Problems this solves
- Designs that look right on screen but fail in the hand
- Fit, ergonomics and assembly issues found too late
- Expensive tooling committed before a concept is proven
- Slow iteration cycles between designer and supplier
Typical applications
- Functional and fit-check prototypes
- Ergonomic and handling models
- Pre-production samples for user trials
- Test rigs and development fixtures
- Concept models for investor and customer presentations
Benefits
Fast iteration
Revisions turned around quickly so development keeps moving.
Functional, not just visual
Materials chosen so the prototype can actually be tested.
Design input included
Problems found in testing are resolved in CAD, not worked around.
Path to production
The same data continues into low-volume manufacture.
Who we work with
- Product developers and start-ups
- Engineering R&D teams
- Inventors preparing for manufacture
- Universities and research groups
How it works
- 01
Define the question
Decide what the prototype needs to prove — fit, function, feel or manufacture.
- 02
Design
CAD created or adapted for the prototype stage.
- 03
Make
Produced using additive manufacturing and supporting processes.
- 04
Test and review
Findings recorded and fed into the next revision.
- 05
Iterate or scale
Refine, or move into low-volume production.
Frequently asked questions
- How quickly can a prototype be produced?
- It depends on size and complexity, but simple parts are typically a matter of days once the CAD is agreed.
- Can prototypes be tested under load?
- Yes, within the limits of the material. Where a prototype cannot represent production strength, that is stated clearly.
- Do you help take a prototype to production?
- Yes — through low-volume manufacture, and by advising when moulding or machining becomes the better route.
Related services
CAD Design
Professional 3D CAD design services from Innovat3D, Staffordshire. Product design, tooling design and manufacturing drawings for UK engineering companies and innovators.
View CAD DesignAdditive Manufacturing
Additive manufacturing services from Innovat3D, Stoke-on-Trent. Engineering-grade parts, tooling and low-volume production for manufacturers across the UK.
View Additive ManufacturingLow Volume Manufacturing
Low volume manufacturing and short-run batch production from Innovat3D, Stoke-on-Trent. Engineering-grade parts without tooling costs or minimum order quantities.
View Low Volume ManufacturingReverse Engineering
Reverse engineering services from Innovat3D, Stoke-on-Trent. Turn existing components into accurate 3D CAD models and drawings for repair, redesign or manufacture.
View Reverse EngineeringDiscuss your application
Send CAD files, drawings, photographs, dimensions, an existing part or simply a description of the manufacturing problem — whatever you have is enough to start. Based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, Innovat3D supports engineering and manufacturing customers throughout the UK.