New product development with rapid prototyping

Rapid prototyping has become an integral part of all product development cycles across the industry. Additive Manufacturing has become synonymous with this as it significantly reduces the time to make the prototypes directly using the 3D CAD model and at a lower cost. Therefore, prototypes can be delivered quickly to customers and customer feedback can be incorporated into design easily.

- Vaman Kulkarni

Around 1980, industries started feeling the need for quick prototypes, which helps in reducing the overall product development cycle time. Industries need to develop and introduce new products faster to remain competitive in this fast-moving modern-day consumer market. Since faster product development and technology innovation are vital to a company’s success, rapid prototyping becomes the most crucial element of new product development. Rapid prototyping achieves the following objectives:

Faster new product development – Rapid prototyping plays a vital role in the process of creating successful products because it speeds up the new product development process.

Early-stage design/concept validation – of the form, fit, and function of the design.

Final stage product verification – against the technical requirement and business objectives.

Finalise the product specification – based on the functionality testing.

Hands on user experience – for end-user, client, customer, user participants to get feedback.

What is rapid prototyping?