Prototype Phase
Please visit our parent company, Toolless for more information.
While the actual manufacturing of the prototype part is done by the production department, the responsibility for part quality, design conformity, and overall part functionality continues to rest with the engineer who designed the part. As such, we view the prototype build as an extension of the whole design process and, while we try to keep it to a minimum, we will sometimes cut and build the prototype part a number of times before presenting the final version to the customer for approval.
With the goal of presenting a prototype part that meets the customer's expectations, each panel and detail is measured for compliance with drawing specifications. Any out of tolerance measurements or visual variations are marked on the prototype drawings and presented along with the part to the engineer for his analysis and, when necessary, program revision. It should be noted that any such revisions are solely those involving the manufacturing of the part and do not affect the enclosure as previously presented in the assembly drawing to the customer.
One of the key goals for this final stage of design development is ensuring the customer's needs for form, fit, and function are achieved while meeting our internal need for manufacturability. Panels, components, and hardware are not only checked for specification compliance but also for their contribution to the overall look and feel of the final product. Many times, specifications are developed without empirical data to justify their need, cost, or efficacy. As such, we have found that once the customer reviews the prototype part with our engineers, tweaking of the design, process, and/or specifications is required. Ultimately, the end result is a high-quality enclosure that meets the visual and physical goals of our customers.