What Are the Advantages & Disadvantages of Prototyping?


The product development process begins with an idea and ends with manufacturing. Between these two steps are the design, engineer and prototyping phases. Prototyping is the stage where companies test their products prior to manufacture. While this testing, and other factors of the stage, are benefits, there are also some drawbacks to the prototype phase.

Advantage: Testing for Functionality

  • Just think of the manufacturing nightmare companies could have if they send their products to production without creating a test part. That's the biggest advantage of making prototype parts: to test for things like function, fit and durability. Making test parts helps engineers identify areas where a particular product can be improved or if it has any flaws. Analyzing prototypes helps dictate design changes.

Advantage: Speed/Materials

  • Another advantage of prototyping is the speed at which it can be done. Rapid prototyping systems, such as 3D printers, can create prototype parts in hours. This puts parts in the hands of designers and engineers quickly, so design changes can be made faster, sending products to market faster. Rapid prototyping systems are also able to make parts in virtually any material. 3D printers can create parts in all different types of plastic, while laser sintering systems can make parts in fully dense metals.

Disadvantage: Added Development Costs

  • Although prototyping systems are becoming smaller, more sustainable and more affordable, they still present an additional expense for companies. 3D printer companies like Objet Geometries, for example, have developed a small, portable, desktop rapid prototyping system in the "Objet24." Although it's cheaper than Objet's other systems, it still costs almost $20,000. Companies can outsource for their prototyping needs, but those costs add up as well.

Disadvantage: Accuracy

  • Prototyping helps companies print parts for functional testing prior to production. But despite advances in technology, many prototyping systems can't exactly create the design. For example, the Objet24 is a high-resolution 3D printer rapid prototyping system. But it creates parts to within 0.1 mm accuracy. While this is almost perfect in terms of part accuracy, it's still off from what the part's final dimensions will be. Prototyping systems also have difficulty creating parts with thin walls or fine patterns.


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