Professional product design seeks to identify technical risks and eliminate them at the earliest opportunity. One method of eliminating risk is to build a sample to test the technical risks - a proof-of-concept sample.

Typical circumstances leading to a proof-of-concept sample:

• Mechanism designs.
• Control system designs

• Aim: To eliminate technical risks early in the product development process. Technical risks include new technologies and anything with which the product development team has no prior experience.
• Requirements: Detailed design and fabrication of a sample which will embody the new technology and demonstrate its application to the desired end product. A proof-of-concept sample may not look like the desired end product. It is commonly designed to be economic rather than stylish.
• Client Inputs: Expertise in key client in-house technologies.
• Relevant MPS Skills and Tools: Experience with mechanism design and control system design, 3D CAD, 3D animation of mechanisms
• MPS Outputs: A proof-of-concept sample will either indicate that the technical risk is understood and manageable by the product engineering team, or it will indicate that the risk is real and more work is required to eliminate it.
• Client Reviews: Client approval required prior to proceeding to following stages.

Detail Design

• Aim: To develop the chosen concept design so that all components required are sufficiently detailed to enable individual checking against design criteria.
• Requirements: Expertise in key technologies; Expertise in manufacturing processes; Experience in product development; Insight into likely problem areas.
• Client Inputs: Approved design concept.
• Relevant MPS Tools and Skills: Product engineering, 3D CAD expertise, 3D modelling expertise, stress analysis.
• MPS Outputs: 3D CAD data, Component & Assembly drawings; Component material specifications; Component & Assembly mass properties; Assembly clearance /  interference checks; Bill of Materials.
• Client Reviews: Client approval required prior to proceeding to following stages.

Photo Render of 3D CAD data (also known as 3D Rendering or 3D Visualisation)

• Aim: To visualise the finished product. Assist in preliminary marketing. Support early development of product literature (installation guide, user guide, service manual, etc.). Enalbe product images to be used on packaging before the real product exists.
• Requirements: 3D CAD models of parts and assemblies
• Client Inputs: Advice on background for images, any images to be rendered onto the product (e.g. label graphics)
• Relevant MPS Tools and Skills: 3D Rendering, 3D Visualisation, 3D animation
• MPS Outputs: Photo rendered images
• Client Reviews:

Prototype Sample & Evaluation

• Aims:
• To check form, fit and function of individual components and the assembly.
• To provide 'hands-on' evaluation of the physical components.
• To make one or more samples without production tooling
• To produce a working sample.
• Client Input: Approval of detailed design. Approval to proceed.
• Relevant MPS Tools and Skills: 3D CAD, 3D Modelling, Prototype fabrication, Rapid prototyping, CNC machining.
• MPS Outputs: Full size prototype components in a technology and material most appropriate to the production materials and processes. Assessment of  form, fit & function of components and assembly.
• Client Reviews: Approval of form, fit & function of all items (within  any limitations imposed by the prototyping process & materials)