The Ugly Truth About Prototyping a New Product

Predictable Designs Podcast · 11 Jan 2023 · 17m

What this episode covers

Host John Teel explains the iterative stages of prototyping electronic hardware, emphasizing that no single prototype suffices for mass production. He details the progression from low-cost Proof of Concept (POC) prototypes using development kits like Arduino or Raspberry Pi to 'looks-like' models made of clay or 3D printed, and 'works-like' prototypes with custom PCBs. Teel outlines the critical transition to pre-production prototypes optimized for injection molding, followed by Engineering Validation Testing (EVT), Design Validation Testing (DVT) for certifications like FCC and UL, and Production Validation Testing (PVT) for pilot runs.

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