Proto–
typing
Prototyping is one of the most, if not the most important stage in the development of a product, be it something physical, a software or system, or a plan of action. Prototyping your product shows you its limitations and where you can improve on it, ensuring your final product or system has minimal room for error and is suitable to user needs.
Prototype
Development
Prototyping is a quick and effective way of bringing a proof of concept to life and allows potential consumers to evaluate, test, and share their feedback.
We can use their feedback to make improvements to the design and functionality of the product.
3D
Scanning
We have the ability to scan a wide range of applications, thanks to our own EinScan HX. We can scan dark or reflective surfaces with high resolution and accuracy up to 0.04mm, offering a final 3D model to our clients who need to reverse engineer a specific part.
3D
Printing
We have the capability for in-house 3D printing with our Creality CR10 3D printer. This printer is capable of printing good quality FDM prints for testing, however when higher quality is needed, we have a good network of external printers at our disposal we can contact.
Injection
Moulding
The latest edition to our in-house arsenal is a small, 40g shot capacity, vertical injection moulding machine, capable of running small batches.
This machine is great to test the properties of elastomers, thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers during the prototyping phase.
From 3D to Prototype
The journey from 3D to prototype can often be an arduous one filled with failed attempts and back-and-forth communication with manufacturers. At CodeFish we are happy to facilitate this process, whether it be with our in-house capabilities, or an external source.
Remember, whilst a failed prototype can be disheartening, it’s why we prototype. Better the product fail in this phase, than in the consumer’s hands.
Prototype In-house
In-house prototyping and manufacturing has been a major goal of ours since the start, and we are happy to say we are growing this capability. We currently offer 3D scanning, 3D printing and injection moulding for prototyping purposes.
If we can’t get it done in-house, we have our network of local partners to help with the process.
External Collaboration
We are gradually growing a network of trusted people who can aid in the design and manufacturing of everything we need. We love to grow this network and are happy to source people and services outside of it.
Building good relationships is important to us, so working with manufacturers, instead of having them work for us, is a key part of our business.
A Passion to Test
The prototyping phase of design can both be frustrating, and insightful. You want your product to succeed first shot, but we often forget how important it is for it to fail in this stage.
Understanding how your product will fail early, lessens the chance of failure when it is in the consumers hands. At CodeFish we love to put a product through its paces because we love to improve. A well-performing product is exciting to us, as we hope it is to you.
In-house Prototyping
In-house prototyping and manufacturing has been a major goal of ours since the start, and we are happy to say we are growing this capability. We currently offer 3D scanning, 3D printing and injection moulding for prototyping purposes.
Design Service Collaboration
Whilst our own internal capabilities are growing, we rely on external sources to help with prototyping or manufacturing. Currently our external capabilities include sheet metal laser cutting and CNC folding, high quality 3D printing (resin), CNC milling, and detail design and engineering services.
Product Testing
CodeFish can be responsible for any product testing including the design and manufacture of any testing jigs required. We can also inquire and liaise with external sources for any specialised equipment needed to test any prototypes.
As part of this we may also run comparative testing, where we compare our design to any similar products currently on the market to ascertain if it is an improvement, or whether there is room for improvement.
User Testing Workshop
Testing a product and understanding its limits as a designer is one thing, but understanding how the uninitiated and end consumer interact with the product is key. Will your end user use the product as intended, will they get confused or frustrated, will they break it?
We can facilitate this interaction between the end user and the prototype by running workshops where we place people in scenarios the product may be used in and understanding how both the product and the user perform.
