Something starts with your idea or concept. It could
be just an idea sketched out on a restaurant napkin
or a full blown concept backed up with drawings
and/or market research.
The scope and specifications are then worked out
between you and our engineers. When that is done,
an amount of hours to complete the task is given to
you along with a schedule for the work involved.
We then begin with the electrical design process. This may involve research, prototyping
circuitry, testing, and programming.
Proof-of-Principle Prototype (model or breadboard).
This type of prototype is used to test some aspect
of the intended design without attempting to
simulate the exact visual appearance, choice of
materials, or intended manufacturing process. Such
prototypes can be used to choose a potential
design approach such as range of motion,
mechanics, sensors, architecture, etc. These types
of models are often used to identify which design
options will not work, or where further development
and testing is necessary.
In general, it can be expected that individual prototype costs will be substantially greater
than the final production costs. We work very carefully to control this and make sure the
final design is taken into consideration at this point
It is possible to use prototype testing to reduce the risk that a design may not perform
acceptably, however prototypes generally cannot eliminate all risk. There are pragmatic
and practical limitations to the ability of a prototype to match the intended final
performance of the product and some allowances and engineering judgement are often
required before moving forward with a production design.
In electronics, prototyping means building an actual
circuit to a theoretical design to verify that it works,
and to provide a physical platform for debugging it
if required. The prototype is often constructed using
techniques such as wire wrap or using veroboard
or breadboard that create an electrically correct
circuit, but one that is not physically identical to the
final product.
The proliferation of quick-turn pcb fabrication
companies and quick-turn PCB (printed circuit
board) assembly houses has enabled the concepts
of rapid prototyping to be applied to electronic
circuit design. It is now possible, even with the
smallest passive components and largest fine-pitch
packages, to have boards fabricated and parts
assembled in a matter of days.
The process of creating the the actual PCB may be done more than once. Quite often an
improvement can be made or a problem fixed within the first attempt after working with
the actual circuit.
The circuit board or boards may now be
put into the enclosure or assembly. If the
enclosure or assembly is done by us it will
be a parallel process to the making of the
PCB(s).
After all the above is said and done, as required - a Bill of Materials, Production
Drawings, Circuit Board Production Files and Software is all created or provided.