fastbuild: 90 min, 10 revisions
Sometimes I have a project that I want to invest my time in. But it's a wild idea. A new way to solve a problem. There's a lot of...
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scale models faster for faster learning
When prototyping to test assembly process, you may not need to build it at 1:1 scale. For small devices like wearable electronics, maybe...
Finding taco sauce
I was going to make Cilantro-Lime Shrimp Tacos. But I needed hot sauce. So I went to the grocery store. How do you find hot sauce at a...
Don't wait until your design is 'finished' to prototype it
In design and development, our time is our most valuable asset. We want to get concepts into real world as fast as possible to validate...
Two is one; one is none
When I only have one precious prototype of my idea, I find myself very protective of it. I avoid doing anything risky that might break...
If you search Google for "3D print prototypes" ...
If you search for “3d print prototypes” Google will return more than 17 million results. If you sort by videos, there's some 350k+...
Prototype faster with Amazon
In early-stage prototypes, I find it faster to buy things, rather than starting from scratch. I recently bought a $50 electronic bill...
Parallel prototyping
Quick tip: build multiple variations at once to shorten your development cycle. If you have several options to test of the same base...
What is a prototype?
A prototype is an idea made real. A few lines of code to test a bit of logic. A pencil sketch to explore a mold parting line. A cardboard...
11 Quick Tips for Rapid Prototyping + 1 Reading Suggestion
Just wanted to share 11 quick Prototyping Tips to help in your next project.
Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast.
Product Development Often Takes 3x Longer Than Planned Speed to market is a critical competitive advantage. But product development is a...
Save $$$ on product development costs in Q1
If you're not slightly embarrassed to show your first prototype build, then you waited too long to build it. Show it early. Figure out...
Quick heads up....
I generally recommend the following: What if you sold a product and someone 'ripped it off' It might be Amazon ripping off the Everyday...
"Make the requirements less dumb"
Image credit Everyday Astronaut Elon Musk explains his engineering philosophy, and I love it. "Make the requirements less dumb." The...
Why choose Protolabs over Xcentric for soft-tooling?
When products are under development, they have a lot of issues. The best way to eliminate the issues is to build a lot of prototypes,...
Should I use Steel or Aluminum Tooling?
Q: Should I use Steel or Aluminum tooling? A: It depends....have you thought about 3D printing for production? Or how about urethane...
Invisible high-value work
I regularly get emails from startups with grand ambitions but no real budget for design services. The pitch is always the same. I have...
Surveillance drone powered by children's laughter
I'm thinking of filing a patent application for a surveillance drone that's powered by children's laughter. Assuming it's approved, the...
Value vs Complexity
Remember the 80-20 rule in designing first-generation products. 80% of the ______ comes from 20% of the ______. Fill in the blanks: 1....
Pre-test before the final exam
In product development, our devices have many tests that they have to pass.
Beware of feature creep
Don't dilute your product's true value by stuffing too many creative ideas into one release.
Escaping the sunk-cost trap
Some startup companies are running with a blindfold on. They have found a little white space (freedom to operate) in a certain field....
Falling in love with your IP; escaping the sunk cost trap
Focus on the customer and usability.
Don't build an app
Don't 'build an app'. Create a solution. Then use technology to scale it.
Knowing this in my 20s would have saved me 5+ years of wasted work
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