2008-Jul-15 - Steel Fabrication Information

Steel Fabrication can be defined as an assortment of techniques of making solid objects through the chronological delivery of material and/or energy to specific points in the space for production of that solid. Steel fabrication is also known as solid freeform fabrication, layered manufacturing, rapid manufacturing, and rapid prototyping.

Techniques: Steel Fabrication is carried out using a number of techniques. Let some of them be studied in detail such as Electron Beam Melting, Fused Deposition Modeling, and Selective Laser Sinterting.

‘Electron Beam Melting’: EBM (Electronic Beam Melting) can be described as the ‘rapid prototyping’ for metals. It is better known as ‘rapid manufacturing’ method. The parts are manufactured by having the metal powder melted layer by layer through a beam of electron in high vacuum. The parts produced acquire strength, solidity, and are void-free as well. The electrons have a very high speed; around 5 to 8 times the light speed. The bombardment of these electrons takes place on the work material’s surface. This generates heat which is enough for melting the part’s surface and causing it to vaporize locally. Vacuum is required for the operation of EBM and Steel Fabrication. This means that the size of work piece is directly proportional to vacuum used. This technique works on composites, ceramics, non-metals, and as stated above, metals.

Fused Deposition Modeling: Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) can be described as a kind of rapid manufacturing (RP) or rapid prototyping technology which is generally used in engineering design. S.Scott Crump had founded this technology in 1980s. It caught the commercial market in 1990. Like most of the RP processes, the principle of working of FDM is the ‘Steel Fabrication principle’. It states that the material has to be laid down in layers. The metal wire or plastic filament is then unwound and material is supplied through it to the extrusion nozzle that can turn off and on the flow.

The nozzle’ then is heated for melting the material. It could be moved in vertical and horizontal directions with the help of a mechanism which is numerically controlled. This numerical control is obtained through ‘Computer Aided Design’ software package. Like stereo lithography, the building of the model takes place from layers. This happens because the material starts hardening after getting extruded from nozzle.

Numerous materials are offered with diverse trade-offs between temperature and strength. One can use the FDM technology with polycaprolactone, polycarbonates, polyphenylsulfones, and Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Temporary supports can be made by using a ‘water-soluble’ material. These supports are needed when manufacturing is still going on. The commercial applications include making prototypes of servo or stepper motors.

‘Selective Laser Sintering’: Selective Laser Sintering can be defined as an Steel type of rapid manufacturing wherein a ‘high power laser’ (like carbon dioxide laser) is used for fusing tiny particles of ceramic, metal, or plastic powders into mass representing the desired three-dimensional object. In comparison to other methods of rapid manufacturing, ‘selective laser sintering’ has the capacity of producing parts from several powder materials available. They include polymers (polystyrene and nylon), metals (composites, alloy mixtures, titanium, steel), and not to forget- green sand. This physical process could be liquid-phase sintering, partial melting, or full melting. 

2008-Jul-15 - Plastic Moulding Info on new Plastic Moulding Site

Additive fabrication can be defined as an assortment of techniques of making solid objects through the chronological delivery of material and/or energy to specific points in the space for production of that solid. Plastic Moulding is also known as solid freeform fabrication, layered manufacturing, rapid manufacturing, and rapid prototyping.

Techniques: Plastic Moulding is carried out using a number of techniques. Let some of them be studied in detail.

‘Electron Beam Melting’: EBM (Electronic Beam Melting) can be described as the Plastic Moulding for metals. It is better known as ‘rapid manufacturing’ method. The parts are manufactured by having the metal powder melted layer by layer through a beam of electron in high vacuum. The parts produced acquire strength, solidity, and are void-free as well. The electrons have a very high speed; around 5 to 8 times the light speed. The bombardment of these electrons takes place on the work material’s surface. This generates heat which is enough for melting the part’s surface and causing it to vaporize locally. Vacuum is required for the operation of EBM. This means that the size of work piece is directly proportional to vacuum used. This technique works on composites, ceramics, non-metals, and as stated above, metals.

Fused Deposition Modeling: Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) can be described as a kind of rapid manufacturing (RP) or rapid prototyping technology which is generally used in engineering design. S.Scott Crump had founded this technology in 1980s. It caught the commercial market in 1990. Like most of the RP processes, the principle of working of FDM is the ‘additive principle’. It states that the material has to be laid down in layers. The metal wire or plastic filament is then unwound and material is supplied through it to the extrusion nozzle that can turn off and on the flow.

The nozzle’ then is heated for melting the material. It could be moved in vertical and horizontal directions with the help of a mechanism which is numerically controlled. This numerical control is obtained through ‘Computer Aided Design’ software package. Like stereo lithography, the building of the model takes place from layers. This happens because the material starts hardening after getting extruded from nozzle.

Numerous materials are offered with diverse trade-offs between temperature and strength. One can use the FDM technology with polycaprolactone, polycarbonates, polyphenylsulfones, and Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Temporary supports can be made by using a ‘water-soluble’ material. These supports are needed when manufacturing is still going on. The commercial applications include making prototypes of servo or stepper motors.

‘Selective Laser Sintering’: Selective Laser Sintering can be defined as an additive type of rapid manufacturing wherein a ‘high power laser’ (like carbon dioxide laser) is used for fusing tiny particles of ceramic, metal, or plastic powders into mass representing the desired three-dimensional object. In comparison to other methods of rapid manufacturing, ‘selective laser sintering’ has the capacity of producing parts from several powder materials available. They include polymers (polystyrene and nylon), metals (composites, alloy mixtures, titanium, steel), and not to forget- green sand. This physical process could be liquid-phase sintering, partial melting, or full melting. 

2008-Jul-15 - Rapid Tooling Info

Rapid Tooling can be described as an ‘Additive Fabrication Technique’ to manufacture solid objects through the chronological delivery of material and/or energy to precise points in the space for producing that part. At present, the practice of controlling the process of manufacturing with the help of computer by making use of mathematical model that has been created through the computer’s aid is being followed. Rapid manufacturing, if done with the help of Parallel Batch Production is capable of providing a huge advantage in terms of cost and speed in comparison with alternative techniques of manufacturing like die casting or Plastic Injection Molding.

Origin: Rapid Tooling process was first demonstrated at The AUTO FACT show. The venue was Detroit, MI. The year was 1987. This creation is attributed to 3D Systems Company. The technologies available now are inclusive of processes such as Laminated Object Manufacturing, Shape Deposition Manufacturing, and Selective Laser Sintering. 

The present scenario: Rapid Tooling might involve replacement parts, custom parts, series production, or Short Run Production. This process can be referred to as Rapid Prototyping only if the use of the part is for development. Rapid Manufacturing carried out for big products with Layer-based Manufacturing from composite materials, plastics, or metals is widely used for numerous industrial applications pertaining to aerospace (Boeing) and military (MPH-Optomec) sectors. Micro system applications and small products are well known in medicines, sensor technologies (micro TEC), and diagnostics. Batch production regarding tiny parts by techniques of rapid manufacturing like RMPD give vent to advantages related to time and cost.

Now days, collectibles, consumer products, orthodontics, dentistry, jewelry, motor sports, and automotives are being experimented with rapid manufacturing. Amazing results are expected in future. The world economy is becoming competitive day by day. Manufacturers are facing the challenge to deliver novel customized products faster than before for meeting customer demands. A late delivery or development might could mean failure of business. Rapid manufacturing has been devised with the objective of shortening the production cycle and design, and promising to revolutionize the age-old manufacturing procedures.

The initial Rapid tooling process: Before starting with the construction of product, a prototype or sample is required quite often as a portion of design cycle, for allowing evaluation, testing, or demonstration of proposed product. This process is iterative, as a chain of prototypes gets built up. These prototypes can then be used for testing various options.

Rapid Manufacturing is also inclusive of rapid application of tools needed for production on a large scale, like jigs, dies, and specially shaped molds. Several Layer manufacturing Processes are being developed now, by making use of a wide range of materials. Parts produced so far have proven to be steadily durable. The size has also been increasing. Due to all these successes, layer manufacturing is the most sought after technique for fabricating the parts for functional prototypes as well as production tools. The process of applying layer manufacturing for making components utilized in production can be called Rapid Tooling. It is being applied to investment casting, injection molding, and many processes related to mold casting.

2008-Jul-14 - Casting Process and How to Preform the Casting Process

There are various Casting Process being implemented now days. The oldest amongst them is sand casting. Casting Process  is also widely used. They can be described as follows:

Sand Casting: Sand casting involves formation of mold from a mixture of sand and to pour a casting liquid, most probably, a molten metal into mold. The metal is then allowed to solidify and the removal of mold, takes place. Sand molding consists of two types: green sand method and air set method. The first one consists of mixture of clay, moisture, silica, and many other additives. The second one consists of mixture of dry sand and other materials, not moist clay. They are mixed with the help of a quick curing adhesive. The collective use of these materials is called ‘air set’.

At times, there is temporary plug placed to pour the fluid which is to be molded. Air-set molds usually form molds consisting of two parts-the bottom and the top. The mixture of sand gets tamped down after its addition. It does not generate any by-product. After the solidification and cooling of metal, the mold gets usually destroyed. This is because its removal involves a lot of breaking and cracking. The casting accuracy depends a great deal on the sand and the process of molding used. Castings composed of green sand result into formation of rough texture on casting surface, and this characteristic makes them easily recognizable. Air-set molds produce smoother castings.

Many a times, the Casting Process results in losing of components of sand mixture. It is possible to reuse green sand by the way of adjusting the composition to get the lost additives and moisture replenished. The entire pattern itself is eligible to be reused for producing novel sand molds. The method of reuse can be continued for an indefinite period. In 1950, casting process got automated partially. They have been in great demand for developing production lines since then. 

Spin Casting: Spin Casting is better known as Centrifugal Rubber Mold Casting (CRMC). It implies utilization of centrifugal force for producing castings out of rubber mold. As a customary practice, a mold having shape of a disc gets spun through its ‘central axis’ at a pre-decided speed. The material used for casting is usually thermoset plastic in the liquid form or a molten metal. It gets poured into the mold through the opening at its centre. Corresponding to the solidification of metal, or the setting of thermoset plastic, the spinning of the filled mold takes place.

Normally, organic rubber or vulcanized silicone is used as a mold-making substrate in spin casting. Vulcanization takes place in the middle of process of mold-making. After the successful completion of vulcanization process, venting and gating must be undergone by the mold. This implies carving of channels for ensuring proper material flow and air during the course of casting. A scalpel or knife is used to carry out the above two processes. The mold complexity is directly proportional to the time required in implementation of venting and gating.  

2008-Jul-14 - Iron Scraps Info and Iron Scraps Process Information

Iron Scraps can be referred to as products made out of melted iron molecules. These molecules are, first, poured into mold and allowed to cool. They are then extracted. The Iron Scraps properties depend a great deal on the foundry practice. They also depend on the cooling rate. Iron contains huge carbon concentrations. This content facilitates melting, simplicity of casting, and machining. Iron casting designs have a great variation owing to the property of iron to resist shrinkage during the process of cooling. The end product attains a great reputation for its strength and durability. Tensile strength ranges between 20,000 psi and over 60,000 psi. The values of hardness (without heat treatment) range between 100 and 300 BHN.

Some factors need to be considered while buying iron scraps. The first thing on the agenda should be, checking the quality of foundry used in products and procedures. This should be done because foundry practices determine the casting properties. The consumer might have a tough time in finding the apt one. Secondly, the concentration of carbon should be looked into. The percentage of carbon commonly ranges between 2.5 and 4%. An addition of even 0.1% would cause the tensile strength to decrease by around 2700 psi. Casting procedures differ from foundry to foundry.

Green sand molding is the most commonly used type of casting. Normally, small and medium sized products are produced using this type of casting. Shell molding is preferred for bigger applications. Shell molding facilitates cooling of the mold containing heated metal. This process gives a better finishing to the final product as compared to all the other processes. Centrifugal casting is used for producing big cylinders and pipes. Both, producer and consumer would get highly satisfied if a proper blend of correct casting process and reputed foundry is made.

Iron Scraps are utilized extensively in machinery, automotive, and agricultural industry. Parts such as turbine and pump housings, dynamometer bases, compressors are made out of iron castings. Majority of manufacturers have the caliber to go for high and low production outputs. They are also entitled to go for short order runs. There are standard prototypes ensuring customer satisfaction and accuracy. Some manufacturers provide finishing services like galvanizing, painting, and machining as well. In general, iron castings include alloy casting, ductile castings, and malleable castings. There are some terms relating to iron castings. They need to be known in order to get a fair idea of iron.

Brinell Hardness Number (BHN): It can be defined as the method used for measuring the hardness of iron. For %LINK2%, a metal ball of 3000Kg is put on a flat iron piece. After the removal of ball, indentation observed is recorded. This measurement indicates the value of hardness.

Tensile Strength: Tensile strength can be defined as the quantity of bending and stretching undergone by a material before tearing or breaking. Here the metal is iron.

Modulus of Elasticity: It can be defined as the ratio of stress to strain. This value determines the elasticity as well as the stiffness of the concerned material.
 

2008-Jul-14 - Refractories Information and Refractories How To Process

People who like to make their own artifacts and are enchanted with the idea of building new and useful things from scratch are sure to enjoy ‘do it yourself casting’ that can be done at home using simple methods and techniques. Many amazing things can be produced and created using you home made metal foundry and Refractories. A good understanding of some basic foundry knowledge and few simple tools can help you make metal casting at home possible. Many people find it difficult to get special parts for their cars or bikes or even find it very costly to modify their cars, house or even bikes. If you develop your hobby of metal casting, then you can easily make special parts for your cars and bikes and also will find it easy and save a lot of money. Casting can be used to make many things like, simple ornaments knobs and even handles. Hand wheels and small machinery or tools can also be made. Small articles like brass name plates, statues, vintage motorcycle and car parts, etc can also be made at home.

Furnace Designs that can be made at home:

Refractories Furnace: This is very easy to build and even a large coffee-can Refractories will serve the purpose. This can be used to build a simple gas fired furnace.

The “2 bucks” furnace: Is not as the name suggests, the furnace can’t be built in two bucks.  It refers to the design based on two buckets. It is very useful and a good experienced person can build it with a budget that is below 10 bucks. It effectively burns propane.

Flowerpot crucible furnace: This furnace can also be built very easily and most importantly, it can be built using the waste material from your back yard. All you need is an old flower pot and a few metal cans. Melt the metal cans and coat the inside of the flower pot with the melted metal Refractories and you furnace is ready.

Other types of furnaces that can be built at home are dirt and brick furnace, chimney pipe furnace and breaking metal in barbecue.

Tools and material needed:

Home made Aluminum Refractories: Pulleys of different size and shapes can be made by bending aluminum rods or plates. They are very simple to make and once you get the hang of it, you’ll enjoy making them.

Building steel crucibles: Steel crucibles are a bit difficult to make. You need to cut the steel and weld it using a welder, so it is a bit risky job and can cause injuries. It needs to be done with utmost care and precaution.

Home made ladle: A ladle can be made at home using a small portion of a steel water pipe; you can select the water pipe according to your needs and then cut it in the desired dimensions to create your home made ladle.

After doing all this basic work and gathering all the required information, you can now start your own metal Refractories casting and make desired articles. You also need to make the molds of your desired shape and size and you are ready to go. All types of Refractories metals and alloys can be used and melted for home casting, only their degree of heat required varies.

2008-Jul-14 - Learn CNC and the CNC Blog Information

Hobby CNC Information that is perfect for the CNC Hobbyist has now been released on Ivan Irons’ CNC Information Website. The new Hobby CNC webpage will help those with Home CNC desires.

Hobby CNC, Home CNC, and the CNC Hobbyist can now find all the information they need at CNCInformation.com website. Ivan has added a dedicated webpage that has all of the information a Hobby CNC enthusiast would need. Visit this dedicated CNC Hobbyist webpage at CNC

Ivan himself is a CNC hobbyist and can add much of his own personal experience to this topic. His new Hobby CNC webpage is in his “DIY CNC” category, which also includes sections about DIY CNC, CNC Kits, and CNC Parts. This CNC Hobby webpage is set to round of this DIY category with some great information for all of those CNC hobbyist that have come out of the wood work in the past few years and even for those Computer Numerical Control hobbyist that have been at it for ten years. The webpage can be found at the following link: http://cncinformation.com/hobby-cnc-home-cnc-cnc-hobbyist/.

Ivan describes how some CNCers tend to get into Hobby at their Home CNC shop. Ivan talks about some times people make it into CNC from another Hobby they have, such as Combat Roboting or Remote Control Modeling. These CNCers have found a need for a small-specialized part that will work for their hobby and CNC is one of the ways to get small-specialized parts at your price and your time constraint. Ivan also has some good idea’s and tips about getting into CNC. This new webpage is a CNC Hobbyists dream come true. Ivan adds plenty of information so a user should check back often for the latest on Hobby CNC at the following website: http://cncinformation.com/hobby-cnc-home-cnc-cnc-hobbyist/.

About CNC Information: CNC Information is a community  website that brings user into a deeper understanding of CNC.

2008-Jul-14 - Auto Cad Information Now on CNC AutoCad Webpage

Auto CAD is a very popular Computer Aided Design Software and a new %LINK1% info webpage has been added to give CNCers everywhere all the information on AutoCAD they ever wanted. This new webpage on Auto Cad is the first section to be added to Ivan’s category that is all about CNC Software. AutoCAD came first on the list of Computer Numerical Controlled Software because it is one of the most popular Computer Aided Design Software’s on the market today. A user can visit this Auto CAD webpage for free at the following weblink: http://cncinformation.com/auto-cad-autocad-auto-cad/.

Designers and Engineers everywhere were stuck hand drawing their designs with rulers and straight edges and tons and tons of paper before Computer Aided Design Software was invented. Now that we have Computer Aided Design Software it is much easier for designers and engineers and Computer Numerical Control Hobbyist create their design. One of these popular design software’s is called AutoCAD and is one of the software’s that Ivan Irons’ highlight in his Computer Numerical Control Software section. This section has everything you ever wanted to know about Auto Cad. If you are thinking about using Auto Cad as your Computer Aided Design Software, you are not going to want to miss this Auto Cad webpage. Visit the link at: http://cncinformation.com/auto-cad-autocad-auto-cad/ and browse around to see all of the information on Auto CAD software.

Ivan also has added plenty of articles on %LINK2% to help the user gain a deeper understanding into Auto Cad. There are articles on AutoCAD hints, AutoCAD Sheets, AutoCAD Express Tools, AutoCAD Software Packages, Reviews of Auto CAD Versions, Drafting Tools in AutoCAD, and much much more. This information is constantly being added to and changing so one should check back often for the latest and greatest information in Auto CAD. The webpage that will get you directly to AutoCAD information is: Auto Cad 

CAD, which stands for Computer Aided Design is an important component in Computer Numerical Control. Ivan Irons has started a new page on his Computer Numerical Control website that is all about CAD Information and CAD Basics for those who are either new to Computer Aided Design, new to Computer Numerical Control CAD, or just want a little bit of a refresher on the basics of Computer Aided Design. You can visit this specific page at: %LINK1%.

On his new CAD Information page, Ivan takes users through the basics of CAD and discusses when Computer Aided Design was invented and how it came about that we started using Computer Aided Design in our everyday lives. Computer Aided Design is used in plenty of other industries besides Computer Numerical Control, such as air equipment, machine equipment, house design, landscaping, and the list goes on and on. See some other places CAD is used at Ivan’s CAD Info webpage at: AutoCad

Ivan also goes briefly into Computer Aided Design that is two dimensional or 2-D versus Computer Aided Design that is three dimensional or 3-D. Ivan talks about the uses for 2D versus 3D and the trends in the Computer Aided Design world to becoming all three dimensional in the next few years. You can see Ivan’s discussion on CAD 2D versus 3D at: http://cncinformation.com/computer-aide-design-cad-cad-design/.

2008-Jul-13 - Additive Fabrication

Techniques: Additive fabrication is carried out using a number of techniques. Let some of them be studied in detail.

Electron Beam Melting: EBM (Electronic Beam Melting) can be described as the ‘rapid prototyping’ for metals. It is better known as ‘rapid manufacturing’ method. The parts are manufactured by having the metal powder melted layer by layer through a beam of electron in high vacuum. The parts produced acquire strength, solidity, and are void-free as well. The electrons have a very high speed; around 5 to 8 times the light speed. The bombardment of these electrons takes place on the work material’s surface. This generates heat which is enough for melting the part’s surface and causing it to vaporize locally. Vacuum is required for the operation of EBM. This means that the size of work piece is directly proportional to vacuum used. This technique works on composites, ceramics, non-metals, and as stated above, metals.

Fused Deposition Modeling: Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) can be described as a kind of rapid manufacturing (RP) or rapid prototyping technology which is generally used in engineering design. S.Scott Crump had founded this technology in 1980s. It caught the commercial market in 1990. Like most of the RP processes, the principle of working of FDM is the ‘additive principle’. It states that the material has to be laid down in layers. The metal wire or plastic filament is then unwound and material is supplied through it to the extrusion nozzle that can turn off and on the flow.

2008-Jul-13 - 3D Printing Technologies

2008-Jul-13 - 3D Printers

Working: All the 3D printers posses five basic process functions for creating a three-dimensional model.

First - The Print Surface is fed with a unique powder.

Second - The powder is spread on print surface by a roller at a preset depth. This process takes just a few seconds for its completion.

Third - Color is applied to the powder’s initial layer by the Standard Inkjet Print Heads.

Fourth - The solidification of powdered layer takes place.

Fifth - The lowering of print surface for powder’s another layer is enabled.

This process goes on repeating till the completion of the whole 3D model occurs. The mixture of Ink Jet Color and powder results in formation of a bond. The solidification occurs this way. So, if no printing is carried out at the specified layer or location, the powder retains its state, i.e. it does not get solidified. Once the printing process comes to a halt, the powder gets blown out, thereby leaving the output which is the reflection of the original model or drawing. Depending on complexity and size of output, this process takes around ½ an hour. These 3D printers do a commendable job, especially when pre-production examples or working prototypes of the specified objects are seen on the computer monitor.

2008-Jul-11 - 3D Printers

Working: All the 3D printers’ posses five basic process functions for creating a three-dimensional model.

First - The Print Surface is fed with a unique powder.

Second - The powder is spread on print surface by a roller at a preset depth. This process takes just a few seconds for its completion.

Third - Color is applied to the powder’s initial layer by the Standard Inkjet Print Heads.

Fourth - The solidification of powdered layer takes place.

Fifth - The lowering of print surface for powder’s another layer is enabled.

This process goes on repeating till the completion of the whole 3D model occurs. The mixture of Ink Jet Color and powder results in formation of a bond. The solidification occurs this way. So, if no printing is carried out at the specified layer or location, the powder retains its state, i.e. it does not get solidified. Once the printing process comes to a halt, the powder gets blown out, thereby leaving the output which is the reflection of the original model or drawing. Depending on complexity and size of output, this process takes around ½ an hour. These 3D printers do a commendable job, especially when pre-production examples or working prototypes of the specified objects are seen on the computer monitor.

2008-Jul-11 - Rapid Prototyping Overseas

Global Sources Group has the ability of designing the rapid prototype within 10 days. Not only that, the patent of the new product acquired can be obtained within 4 weeks. Here, time is equated with money. Hence, the new product would be air freighted to the topmost overseas factory to have the quality and fast productivity maintained. This would thus take the client to the subsequent level.

Global Sources Group assists companies in rapid prototyping, right from design to manufacture. It specializes in manufacturing and ‘Art to Part Design’. This company has been into rapid prototyping for the last 20 years.

Delcam: Another company dealing with rapid prototyping overseas is Delcam. This company was established in 1968, when 3D modelling was not even talked of. 2D drawing was prevalent. Then in late 1980s, rapid prototyping was born due to the efforts of Ford. The process can be described as follows: Rapid Prototyping can be made effective if a good quality STL FILE is used. It is independent of composition. STL file, having property of water tightness can be exported by Power SHAPE. The errors can be automatically detected and repaired by a set of ‘wizards’. It provides the customer with total control over the creation of mesh. The intuitive, fast model from PowerSHAPE carries out the repairing of tools. This means that if the surfaces of original model of CAD are damaged or missing, the work won’t be stopped, i.e. the customer can easily carry out the fixation of model and go on with his work.

2008-Jul-11 - Designing and Prototyping

Designing: Designing is the process by which you will design a product in advance before actual production. Designing will help you to innovate, change, modify and invent. Designing involves the process of idea generation, conceptualizing and actual design development.

Prototyping: Prototyping is a process in which a working model or prototype is developed for the purpose of testing the various design aspects like features, ideas, viability, functionality, output and performance. The prototyping will help in getting a quick user feedback. Prototyping is considered to be an essential element of the process of system designing.

Designing and prototyping go hand in hand, as both are complementary. In prototyping, new prototypes are developed on the basis of the performance of earlier designs. The deficiencies or problems in the previous designs can be detected and corrected. The prototype is redesigned after refinement and successfully meets the designing goals like functionality, manufacturability, performance and robustness. After this, the product can be readily produced.

Benefits of Designing and Prototyping: The scope of designing and prototyping is unlimited. Both have applications in all types of industries like CAD, CAM, automotive industry, workshops, fashion designing and innovative products and so on. With designing, you are able to create digital data in the form of 3D images and this digital data can be transformed into actual physical object by way of prototyping. You can visualize about how the final product will look. You can translate your inventions and innovative ideas in real terms with the help of designing and prototyping.

2008-Jul-11 - Inventions and Prototypes

Construction of an ‘invention prototype’ at the appropriate time: It’s essential to construct an ‘invention prototype’ much before buying the tooling for building the product or seeking contract manufacturers. Many a times, it so happens that the inventor might, in reality want to build a prototype much before getting too fancy regarding computer drawings. He is likely to burn up loads of cash on ‘engineering drawings’ when possibly what he needs 1st is the papier-mache clearly showing him what is being tried by him. If that is the case, he is advised to revert to computer-aided drawings. Assessing the proper time for prototype is not all that tough. It just requires a proof of workability of the product invented by the concerned person.

The proper an invention prototype for proper audience: An ‘invention prototype’ should be aimed towards the proper audience for doing its job. It means that the tailoring should be done in such a way that the requirements of the customers get fulfilled much to their satisfaction. Not only that, the prototype should be able to bear the critics of potential partners, investors, suppliers, and customers. Hence, it should be noted that just friendly appraisals are not enough. The more slicker looking and operable the prototype, the ‘better’. However, it’s advisable to not get carried away by the praises. It’s better to spend less on this production, as there would be many other places for spending the start up capital.