From Concept to Reality

An appearance model is built to look exactly like the final product — correct geometry, surface finish, colour, and texture — but may not have working electronics or moving mechanisms. A functional prototype works like the final product but may not look production-perfect. We produce both, and often a hybrid: an appearance model with working key mechanisms for client presentations and investor demos.

For CNC-machined models, tolerances are as tight as ±0.001". SLA and SLS prints are accurate to ±0.2mm on most geometries. The limiting factor is usually material — prototype materials behave differently to production-grade polymers or metals, and we brief you on that gap explicitly before you commit to a prototype build. No surprises at delivery.

Both. If you have production-ready CAD, we can go straight to prototyping. If you're starting from a sketch or a rough concept, we handle the full process — design, engineering, DFM — and then build the prototype. Starting from scratch to first prototype typically takes 6–10 weeks depending on complexity.

Both. Our electronics team develops PCBs, firmware, and sensor integration — and we integrate these into the physical prototype in-house. This means you get a working product demo, not a shell with wires hanging out. Electronics prototypes add 4–6 weeks to the timeline and are scoped and priced separately from the physical model.

Yes. Prototyping is one phase of our FORGE™ process. After prototype validation, we move into DFM (design for manufacture), production drawings, BOM development, and supplier readiness — the complete package your tooling vendor and contract manufacturer needs to start production. Many clients engage us for the full arc from concept to manufacturing handover.

There's no formal minimum. That said, prototyping involves setup costs — CAD preparation, material sourcing, machining or printing time — so very small single-part models are usually most cost-efficient when batched with other parts. We're transparent about this in quoting. If your project is small, tell us and we'll advise on the most cost-effective approach.