When you have an amazing idea for a new product or part, you want to get it out into the world as soon as possible. Rapid prototyping is ideal in this case, as it allows you to develop an initial design on a shorter timeline. This process uses a combination of computer-aided design and 3D printing to produce a tangible item that can be presented to others as needed. Here are a few best practices so you can achieve the best outcome. 

Do:

Collaborate with all involved parties. 

Even if you're responsible for the initial idea, collaboration is key to a successful finished product. Receiving feedback from fellow inventors, engineers, investors, creative staff, shareholders, and other relevant parties can provide lots of clarity during the design process. 

For example, feedback might involve the size and dimensions of a part to ensure it will operate seamlessly in a larger piece of equipment. If tweaks are needed, they can occur early on as a result of collaboration. 

Extensively document the prototype process. 

Proper documentation during prototyping will make your life so much easier when you reach the actual product development phase. Document the original size of the prototype and update as changes are made. Jot down suggestions made by your team, as well as when they were made. 

Track features as they're added on or removed. With this information at your disposal, you can use these notes to guide the final design and avoid making changes that were proven unsuccessful in the past. 

Don't:

Extend beyond your reasonable limits.

When you or a collaborator has a promising idea, do some research before revealing it to the rest of the team. Go online and perform a search for similar products or components. This will let you know if they've been successfully implemented in the past. 

You can also confer with professionals in your given industry. They can help you determine whether the features and functions of your prototype are realistic. 

Sacrifice a good outcome in pursuit of perfection. 

While you should always strive to develop a high-quality prototype, it doesn't need to be a perfect finished product. The goal is to illustrate the quality of the eventual product to others, whether that's investors or business associates. Striving for perfection can lengthen the process unnecessarily, while also causing frustration when you fall short of lofty goals. 

When it comes to the 3D printing portion of rapid prototyping, you can't go wrong with Faro Industries. Located in Rochester, NY, this company has served local businesses and entrepreneurs since 1967. They'll take your existing CAD files and render them into an impressive prototype, and they'll do so with a quick turnaround time. Visit the website to learn more about the services they offer, or call (585) 647-6000 to discuss your design needs today.