Build a Prototype with LT Century Before Going to Production!

LT Century is fully aware about how taxing entrepreneurship can be. Getting the right idea for a product and raising the capital to make it happen is one of the biggest efforts made by entrepreneurs every day around the world. It all pays off the moment you finally get to that moment when create a prototype of the product to bring it to life. You will be able to see what it works and what limits your design. You also get the chance to improve your idea and make it more reliable or even more cost-effective.

This process used to take up to a whole year in the past. Thanks to rapid prototyping technology that’s all in the past now. This technology optimized manufacturing procedures in the entire world. Nothing has been the same since this production method was introduced back in the early ’80s. Traditional tooling is rarely used these days. It has been changed by rapid prototyping. This automated sculpting method allows you to get a working sample of your product in a couple of days at most.  

A finished prototype should translate with full accuracy your new product by following the patterns and ideas laid out in the design phase. Rapid prototyping is meant to bring your vision of a product to life and make it tangible. You and the people you hope to entice with your product will feel an exceptional sensation of fulfillment once you have something to show. It makes your product feel real and it gives your potential clients something to look forward until the date of release arrives.

If you need more reasons to understand why a prototype is such a needed step, LT Century is happy to list the following for you:

Validation

A prototype validates customer needs. It also offers a glimpse to potential investors to understand your goals and ideas. Rapid prototyping technology has saved thousands of dollars to new and experienced entrepreneurs alike.  You no longer need to spend a lot of money to validate your ideas for a product on any given market. By creating a rapid prototype, you can see how well your ideas work on a sample of the audience you expect to reach.

Workability

Rapid prototyping can also help you demonstrate that your idea can work. This testing ground is often viewed as the “dream killer” for many innovators. But their research sets a precedent on their search of a product that works the way they want to. Their vision and theory might be solid, but the finished prototype is the thing that will tell you the viability of your ideas. It will also speak volume about your project to your developing team and any potential investors.

Revisions

A finished prototype can also help you change the design as you need. You can work around these last minutes changes effortlessly these days. In the old days, a faulty prototype meant a full production of a product that wouldn’t work at all. It was like setting fire to a pile of money because somebody didn’t notice what it was under the blanket. CAD models can be reworked as many times is needed to get the prototype right. The materials to create the prototype itself are cheap enough these days to be able to cost more than one try until it’s done right.

Testing

Prototypes can also give you the chance to start early trials and performance tests. Rapid prototyping technology allows you to create models using the same materials used in the production stage. It is pretty easy to get a finished sample to test the performance of the product. You can also use this opportunity to make sure the materials have been adequately chosen and that the quality of the finished product holds up to international standards.

Enticement

A working prototype can also convince any potential investors to take your ideas seriously. Most venture capitalists are looking for the next big thing with reduced risks. After validating your prototype, all investment risks will magically disappear. Ultimately it all bows down to a simple truth: in 2019 if your project doesn’t have a proven, working prototype, no investor will give you the time of day.

Keep in mind that even if your ideas are rough, you can work with a manufacturer to shape them and turn them into reality. LT Century has a fantastic design department that can help you in this stance. Keep in mind that any creative process can be risky and costly. Your ideas might be good, but only a few ideas get to succeed.

The best you can do to get your project up and running fast is by approaching the manufacturer with a well-developed project that can be optimized by them, instead of being handled from scratch.

_______________________________________________________________________Nemi is a freelance writer with over 8 years of experience as a business analyst and technical writer. He has a strong background in technology and finance and loves taking complicated ideas and explaining them in an innovative and easy to understand way.