Rapid Prototyping

Rapidly test your product idea with a high-quality 3D prototype.

End-to-end product design

Friendly & approachable

Work with our directors

Cost-effective & ethical

What is Product Prototyping?

Prototyping is an important stage before you begin manufacturing a product. It involves putting together your product’s first few 3D working models so you can see the concept and designs in action. You can also present a prototype to your funding partners or board of directors to secure the funds and approvals you need to start manufacturing your product.

Rapid prototyping is our preferred methodology. Despite our ability to produce an initial, fully-functioning prototype in a fraction of the time, we don’t take shortcuts. The prototype will be high quality and match your desired aesthetics.

Troubleshooting issues before you start manufacturing will not only prevent costly mistakes but also allow you to launch your product with confidence, knowing it meets all your quality standards and desired aesthetics too!

View Our Collection of High-Quality, Aesthetic Prototypes

Prototypes bridge the gap between concept and production.

A well-researched prototype can save you thousands. Browse our range of prototypes and products we’ve helped our clients create. You’ll notice one thing in common; we never sacrifice quality or engineering integrity.

No matter your industry, we can help prototype your product idea with the same level of engineering excellence our firm is known for.

Let’s bring your product to market

Our Prototyping Process

Prototyping can be an expensive endeavour. Our approach prioritises research and engineering to save you from costly mistakes down the track.

You will likely need a handful of prototypes as we improve on the designs and concepts until your product is ready to be manufactured. Learn all about our rapid prototyping approach below.

Timeframe: Typically 8 weeks

Inclusions: Rapid prototyping, prototype testing, and perfecting the aesthetics.

Ideal if you need a:

  • Proof of concept to get buy-in from investors or a board of directors
  • 3D physical product you can test out
  • Final, fully-functional prototype prior to manufacturing

1

Concept Development

After our initial consult, we’ll get to work researching and providing you with a detailed design plan that overcomes key challenges for bringing your product to market. Concept development is a crucial step before prototyping.

2

Low-Fidelity Initial Prototypes

We typically make one or two prototypes in-house using 3D printing technology or CNC milling. These prototypes are not designed to function like the finished product, though they will be of a high standard, and the aesthetics will match the designs.

3

Testing & Feedback

You’ll get a chance to test out each of the initial prototypes and provide feedback to help us refine the designs. We can tweak the look and feel or make the product more ergonomic.

4

Remake Prototypes

By integrating all of your feedback, we will remake the prototypes and refine the aesthetics and designs to suit your preferences. Once again, these prototypes will not function like the completed product though they will be of a high standard.

5

High-Fidelity Final Prototypes

We can remake prototypes as many times as needed until you’re confident to proceed with manufacturing. The final prototypes will be created by the manufacturing company and will look and function almost identically to the final product.

6

Final Testing

If we assist you with manufacturing the product, we will complete final tests in-house to ensure the manufacturer has understood the design details correctly and the product functions as it should.

Industries We Work With

Commercial Product Design

Consumer Product Design

Accessible Product Design

Sustainable Product Design

Brands We’ve Worked With

Prototyping Case Studies

First Pack – Power Pack

The power engine behind a food heating system used in delivery services.

The Powerpack is a powerful and durable lithium ion battery pack designed specifically for use in food heating systems for delivery services. Developed for First Pack, one of Australia’s leading food packaging distributors, the Powerpack is built to withstand the rigors of daily use in the growing food delivery industry.

Why Choose Us?

  • Work with our directors

    By choosing Paraform, you can rest assured knowing our knowledgeable directors are overseeing your project from start to finish.

  • Reduce defects

    By taking the time to engineer your prototypes properly, we can assure you of a higher-quality product that’s well-crafted and unparalleled.

  • Fast, in-house prototyping

    We work fast and can have an initial prototype in your hands in no time. We produce many prototypes in-house to help iron out potential issues quickly.

  • Ensure manufacturability

    Our prototyping service is designed to ensure successful manufacturing. We’ll thoroughly test and iron out the kinks, so you avoid costly mistakes during manufacturing.

Let’s bring your product to market

Why Our Clients Love Working With Us

  • Yossi and his team were extremely professional.

    From start to finish, Yossi and his team were extremely professional. The project was clearly scoped, and was delivered within the agreed upon budget and timeline. Highly recommended!

    Niren - CDS Worldwide

Types of Prototype Development Methods We Use

3D Printing Prototypes

Our in-house 3D printing services allow us to deliver fast and cost-efficient prototypes. In industrial design, 3D printing is commonly used to transform two-dimensional plans into a 3D product you can see and touch.

Your 3D printed prototype can feature both plastic and metal components that have been constructed layer by layer. A laser may also be used for heating and sintering powdered materials.

Our 3D prototyping service is agile and lean, allowing us to iterate on the design and quickly remake your prototypes after integrating your feedback.

CNC Rapid Prototyping

In addition to a 3D printed prototype, we also deliver CNC rapid prototyping in-house (either as a standalone method or in combination with 3D printing). CNC stands for “Computer Numerical Control” and is a manufacturing process that uses pre-programmed software to guide a factory machine to build a product or prototype.

Therefore, rapid CNC prototyping requires a 3D CAD drawing which includes instructions for the machine to understand how to operate when creating the product.

The most significant difference between CNC milling and 3D printing is that one is designed to remove material while the other adds material. No matter which method your product needs, we can deliver a quality prototype with a high degree of control and precision.

Rapid Prototype Casting

Some products may benefit from rapid prototype casting. Rapid casting integrates traditional casting methods, like investment casting and 3D printing.

If your product requires a mould you can use to cast metal components, we may consider rapid casting for your prototypes. However, we do not use this method for the initial prototypes as there is a significant upfront cost in having the casting die made.

Once we’re ready to create high-fidelity prototypes, which are near identical to your finished product, we can liaise with the manufacturer and determine if rapid casting is necessary for your project.

Plastic Rapid Prototyping

We’re masters when it comes to plastics manufacturing and prototyping. We design our products with environmentally-friendly materials as much as possible and apply the same to our plastic rapid prototyping service.

Rapid prototyping plastic parts and products is easier and more cost-effective than a method like casting. We can use either 3D printing or CNC machining to create plastic prototypes that look and function how you would like them to.

FAQs

Is prototyping expensive?

Prototyping is a fairly costly endeavour, but one that can also save you thousands by avoiding costly manufacturing mistakes! Multiple hard costs are associated with producing a prototype, such as the cost of raw materials and the machines and labour required to make the prototypes.

The complexity of your product also affects pricing. The more components needed, especially if there is a mix of mechanical and electrical components, the more expensive the prototype may be to produce.

To make your prototypes as cost-effective as possible, we lean on our engineering expertise and research processes to ensure that we’ve covered all details in the designs before we create the prototypes. This way, you will require fewer iterations to get the perfect version of your product faster.

How many prototypes does your service include?

As a minimum, we will deliver three prototypes that progressively get closer to the final product you’re seeking to manufacture. Not all prototypes will resemble or function like the final product, as prototyping is a step towards manufacturing and is often an iterative process.

However, suppose you would like to provide more rounds of feedback and iterate on the prototypes we create. In that case, we’re more than happy to work with you until you’re absolutely happy with the final working model we send to manufacturers.

However, it’s worth remembering that prototyping is not a cheap endeavour. The expenses for each additional prototyping round will be added to your project’s total cost and communicated in advance.

Will my prototypes look and function like the final product?

The final prototype you receive will be the closest to the product you will manufacture. The previous prototypes will vary in how detailed they are, depending on their function in the process.

For instance, initial prototypes are often of high aesthetic quality, so you can see and feel what the final product will be like. However, they will not necessarily function like a completed product. These initial prototypes are an aid that helps us improve on the design and iron out any kinks before you start manufacturing.

How long does it take to receive my prototypes?

We can deliver rapid prototypes within the first four weeks using our lean and nimble processes. However, it typically takes up to 12 weeks to receive a fully-functioning prototype from your manufacturing company.

Let’s bring your product to market