# The Ugly Truth About Prototyping a New Product

- Show: [Predictable Designs Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast)
- Published: 2023-01-11
- Length: 17m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2023-01-11-the-ugly-truth-about-prototyping-a-new-product

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2023-01-11-the-ugly-truth-about-prototyping-a-new-product#t=15) Introduction: The Necessity of Multiple Prototypes
- [0:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2023-01-11-the-ugly-truth-about-prototyping-a-new-product#t=15) Proof of Concept (POC) Prototypes
- [0:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2023-01-11-the-ugly-truth-about-prototyping-a-new-product#t=15) Looks-Like Prototypes: Clay, Foam, and 3D Printing
- [0:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2023-01-11-the-ugly-truth-about-prototyping-a-new-product#t=15) Works-Like Prototypes and Custom PCBs
- [0:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2023-01-11-the-ugly-truth-about-prototyping-a-new-product#t=15) Engineering and Pre-Production Prototypes
- [0:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2023-01-11-the-ugly-truth-about-prototyping-a-new-product#t=15) Validation Stages: EVT, DVT, and PVT

## Topics

- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch

## Mentioned

- Arduino (other)
- Raspberry Pi (other)
- FCC (other)
- UL (other)
- CE (other)
- ROHS (other)
- Hardware Academy (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [164: The 3 Prototyping Phases for New Product Development](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-02-23-164-the-3-prototyping-phases-for-new-product-development) (Product Startup)
- [Ep. 38 - Taking Prototypes to Production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2025-02-27-ep-38-taking-prototypes-to-production) (Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast)
- [IDology #2 - Prototyping in product development](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2022-11-15-idology-2-prototyping-in-product-development) (IDology)
- [149: How to Professionally Prototype your Invention Idea](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-11-09-149-how-to-professionally-prototype-your-invention-idea) (Product Startup)
- [186: Sleeping on the Factory Floor](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-02-09-186-sleeping-on-the-factory-floor) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2023-01-11-the-ugly-truth-about-prototyping-a-new-product. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Predictable Designs Podcast.