Functional Prototype & Working Prototype
Make a working functional prototype to test the form, fit and function of the part to prove and perfect your design.
What is Functional Prototype
Test the Functionality of Parts in Real-World Environments
A functional prototype is the most basic working prototype built to validate a product design. Additionally, it is an integral part of the assembly, testing, piloting, and market research process that evaluates design, materials, strength, tolerances, assembly, work mechanisms, manufacturability. Manufactured with several prototyping techniques and engineering-grade materials, functional prototypes are alternatives to finished products, allowing examination and testing on form, fitness, and functionality under extreme working conditions to improve designs.
Application of Functional Prototype
Functional Prototype Used to Simulate the Final Product
- Create a functional prototype using production-grade materials to realistically simulate the final product’s mechanical function, chemical resistance, and thermal properties, indicating its performance before production.
- Create a working prototype for complex assemblies to check a component’s form and fitness, and ensure accuracy of pre-assembled parts.
- Produce high-precision functional prototypes to measure, compare, or check for design errors, dimensional variances, and acceptable tolerances.
- Functional optical prototyping to support engineering tests for optical development, including light transmission and refractive index.
- Add metal inserts, movable hinges, simulated over-moulding processes, and more, to functional prototype parts to mimic and verify the finished product functionality.
- Realistic functional prototypes aid the presentation of the final product’s aesthetics and functionality. It provides design scalability.
Facilitates Product Development
Reap the Rewards from a Functional Prototype
- Facilitate design testing, evaluation, and improvement in the product development process.
- Validate product performance to ensure quality standards.
- Identify and eliminate potential problems before investing in expensive production tooling.
- Ensure manufacturing feasibility and timely product delivery.
- Share ideas with stakeholders on time to showcase product value to customers and potential investors.
- Patent inventions to protect intellectual property
Functional Prototyping Technology
With All Our Power to Ensure the Success of Your Project
At WayKen, we provide you solutions to create a precise and detailed functional prototype for quick, economical, and low-risk product testing and evaluation. With advanced rapid prototyping technology, we bring your design to life in a few days. We offer expert advice covering testing, assembly, functionality, or starting points for downstream manufacturing service.
As such, you gain full design validation in functional testing and confidently implement full production. Functional prototype fabrication techniques include CNC machining, vacuum re-molding, rapid aluminum molding, etc.
CNC Machining
CNC machining provides an ideal way to manufacture functional prototype. It offers a wide selection of engineering grade materials to give “functional prototypes” the right material properties, alongside precise dimensional tolerances and surface finish. Professional surface finishing gives the final product the top-notch aesthetics and texture.
Vacuum Casting
Vacuum casting is ideal for low volume production of a functional prototype (10 to 50 copies). Choose polyurethane materials with different physical properties to meet functional tests under conditions, like mechanical load, thermal load, other reliability tests. Additionally, obtain production-like results, including colour, finish, texture, and soft-hand feel.
Rapid Tooling in Aluminum Molds
This fast and cost-effective plastic molding method not only manufactures hundreds of functional test prototypes close to the final product, but also provides production of end-use parts on demand. Quick mold-making cycles and cost-effective production methods promote cheaper design iterations and smoother transition from prototype to production.
