“Most excellent! Thank you very much - I am quite amazed at the speed of manufacture and delivery!” Dr John Orwin - New Zealand Geologist commenting on twenty prototype sets produced by DAP

In our experience design and engineering projects are notorious for running into overtime. Quite often when it comes to validating a design by producing a prototype, timelines and budgets can already be under considerable pressure. 

We understand this challenge well and have built a lean and efficient business to help companies meet it head on. We’re able to deliver time-critical prototypes in a wide range of form and function to meet strict objectives and budget constraints.

Form Model – Solid volume objects used to confirm industrial design shape or fitment

Form Models or block models are usually solid components designed to aid understanding of the design shape. Often used as a preliminary ergonomic assessment tool or to study the physical form.

Typically only the exterior shape is CNC machined from a material suitable for quick processing such as plastic or tooling board. Raw material colour and machined surface finish are standard, but the outer surfaces can be treated to meet specific requirements.

Functional Prototype – Used for mechanical testing and industrial design validation

Definitely our most common request for prototypes comprises fully detailed components made from production materials. Such parts give the designer a good understanding of weights, handling and visual appearance which can be tested for strength or taken to breaking point (destruction testing).

Once the raw materials are machined they can be finished to match end product specifications such as sand blasted, polished, plated or anodised. 

Presentation Model – High quality finishes & functioning parts

These prototypes will certainly capture the spotlight and help to launch a product even before tooling has been produced. Surface specifications such as chrome, rubberised finishes, laser etching, logo printing and LCD screens are realisable.

Full production specifications are referenced such as PMS colour, texture finishes, materials, graphic specifications, keypad graphics and action. LED’s can be wired to run on batteries and the assembly made to appear fully operational.

Next…….