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Questions about making prototypes

  • 01/17/2008 2:19 PM
    Message # 5887
    Anonymous
    Please post your questions about prototypes here. Other members will answer, and perhaps our resident prototype makers will also chime in.
  • 05/08/2008 7:48 PM
    Reply # 25355 on 5887
    Hi,

    My partner and I are looking for a good plastic/bottling prototype company.   We are just getting our feet wet, so we're a little unsure of the process.  Any help would be great. 

    Some questions we have:
    -How much do prototypes typically cost?  Ideally, our product would be no taller than a 12-18 inches with a bout a 10 inch circumference.  Overall it would entail probably three separate parts. 

    -Any companies to look out for? 

    -Any other insight would be appreciated.

    Jim
  • 05/26/2008 10:40 AM
    Reply # 34735 on 5887
    Anonymous

    Check out www.sonos1.com.  Ask for Carl TenBrink, who is going to be our speaker I believe in June.

  • 09/08/2008 10:32 AM
    Reply # 53785 on 5887
    Deleted user

    Hi Folks,

    Thanks for having me. I am a complete novice at this idea of inventing something and getting it to market.

    I've got a widget that I've modeled in 3d on Pro-E CAD software and made some preliminary drawings. I've just heard back from my new patent attorney Dom Irsler http://www.itspatentable.com/index.html

    I live in Hermosa Beach and found Don on the Internet at a fraction of the cost of Patent attorneys out here in Ca. He lives and works in Wisconsin and has just completed a patent search for my widget and has told me he thinks he can get a patent for it. He charged me $475 for the search and completed it in about 4 to 5 days. When he completed the search he emailed me 10 of the most relevant existing patents that he found that came the closest to my widget.  I asked him for the bottom line ...... can you get me a patent? He said "I think I can".

    So that's where I'm at. I didn't get anything in writing from him. Is that normal to have nothing in writing? I asked him that same question and he said flat out "no" you don't get anything in writing because it can come back to haunt the the patent application process. In other words if you write down any issues or perceived issues about prior art and those written statements surface then they can be used to deny a patent. Does that sound right to you guys?

    So my next move (I think) is to get some quotes for a prototype. My widget is a small metal device that you put on the end of a cable or wire rope so you can connect the cable to something or to anchor it. I'll need a prototype house that does castings and testing in the south bay area.

    Can anyone recommend a reliable, affordable (cause I'm broke) shop that can do this type of work?

    I'm also trying to find out if it's possible to test my widget (see if it works) without making a prototype. Can adequate stress analysis be preformed on the 3d model to determined where and when the device will fail (let go of the wire rope) without actually spending the money on a prototype ? I'm hoping this analysis service will cost less than actually making a prototype and testing the device itself. Can anyone help me with that question?

    Thanks in advance to anyone that can help me answer my questions or to anyone that is willing to add their two cents. Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

    Jeff Byers

    PrimoSand Productions LLC

    310 374-1840

     

     

     

     

  • 10/12/2008 1:08 PM
    Reply # 60817 on 5887
    Deleted user

    Hi Jeff -

    I also live in Hermosa Beach.

    I am part-owner of Model Labs LLC and we make plastic prototype parts from a 3D cad file, STL format.  We are offer a 25% discount to Inventor Forum members and our standard prices are already competitive price competitve.

    I am also a senior structural analyst at a local aerospace company where I have worked for 5 years.

    Let's get together (Javaman is my favorite place) and talk about your needs and see if I can help you out.

    Email me or leave a voice message.

    Looking forward to talking with a fellow Hermosa resident!

    Paul Shaheen

    Model Labs

    www.modellabs.com

    paul@modellabs.com

    (949) 230-5018

  • 10/12/2008 3:57 PM
    Reply # 60828 on 5887

    I need to make some plastic prototypes and would appreciate any credible referrals.  My designer will be sending a card file to a company he has used before but getting a company that is part of the Inventors Forum Network would be important to me. Thanks.

  • 10/12/2008 9:41 PM
    Reply # 60938 on 60828
    Deleted user
    Charles Mwangi wrote:

    I need to make some plastic prototypes and would appreciate any credible referrals.  My designer will be sending a card file to a company he has used before but getting a company that is part of the Inventors Forum Network would be important to me. Thanks.


    Hi Charles, I am a member of the Inventors Forum (3 years) and i am a part owner on model labs (see previous posting in this topic). We make abs plastic prototypes from a cad file. We are a new company and are really looking forward to working with other members of the group. If you send me your cad file (stl format preferred) I will send you a quote. Paul Shaheen Paul@modellabs.com Modellabs.com
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