Last year, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office received 646,244 patent applications. Of those, about 60 percent received patents. With so many ideas out there, it might seem impossible to come up with something new and marketable. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t create a new product no one else has thought of. Below are tips to consider when creating a new tech prototype from scratch.
Craft a Model Sketch
The first tip to consider in making your idea a reality is writing it down on paper. Crafting the concept helps you envision and understand your prototype in detail. While you can create your concept with a digital drawing program, many people prefer to sketch concepts on a piece of paper first because as you try coming up with a new tech prototype, multiple ideas will be running and competing in your mind. It can save you time and effort sketching the concept on a piece of paper rather than correcting the digital drawing.
Create a Virtual Prototype
Over time, developing a digital sketch of your prototype can be invaluable. However, you can use engineers’ advanced digital design tools to create 2D and 3D versions. Coming up with a 3D rendering lets you animate and rotate the virtual sketch and have an all-angle view.
Develop a Corporal Prototype
Once you create a virtual prototype, you can now develop a physical prototype. You can either develop it yourself if you have the right skills or seek help from different resources. For example, you can find a proficient prototype designer to build it. Once you have developed a physical prototype, you can go through it keenly to check on areas that need correction before acquiring a patent.
As part of creating and designing circuits for a physical prototype, you can use a prototyping board. These boards are either perfboards or breadboards with holes to attach electronic components. Electronic designers use it to develop their first tech prototypes. The prototyping board helps you test and build circuits. You can find these by talking to companies like Advanced Circuits.
Find a Manufacturer
Once you have built your physical prototype, you can apply for a patent or take an extra step if finding a manufacturer to produce your product at a cost-effective price. If your tech prototype idea is useful and you plan to sell it, you can figure out ways to develop it at a lower cost to cover all expenses without overspending.
Tech prototypes are useful in identifying product features and development. If you are afraid of facing your competitors, you can acquire a non-disclosure agreement from your manufacturer to protect your tech prototype using patents.
