# 223: Mechanical Prototype Parts vs. Pre-Production Parts for Plastic Inventions

- Show: [Product Startup](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup)
- Published: 2024-04-26
- Length: 17m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2024-04-26-223-mechanical-prototype-parts-vs-pre-production-parts-for-plastic-inventions
- Listen: https://productstartup.com/podcast/223-mechanical-prototype-parts-vs-pre-production-parts-for-plastic-inventions/

## Summary

Tim Uys, Director of Design at MAKO Design + Invent, explains the critical differences between mechanical and pre-production prototypes for plastic hardware. He details how mechanical prototypes validate function and material strength, while pre-production prototypes apply specific manufacturing constraints like draft angles for injection molding. Uys warns that skipping these stages or adding feature creep exponentially increases costs, advising startups to keep initial features minimal to ensure a robust path to mass production.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2024-04-26-223-mechanical-prototype-parts-vs-pre-production-parts-for-plastic-inventions#t=0) Introduction: Tim Uys and MAKO Design + Invent
- [3:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2024-04-26-223-mechanical-prototype-parts-vs-pre-production-parts-for-plastic-inventions#t=219) Defining the Mechanical Prototype and Material Selection
- [6:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2024-04-26-223-mechanical-prototype-parts-vs-pre-production-parts-for-plastic-inventions#t=402) Pre-Production Prototypes and Injection Molding Constraints
- [8:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2024-04-26-223-mechanical-prototype-parts-vs-pre-production-parts-for-plastic-inventions#t=517) The Cost of Skipping Stages and Feature Creep
- [12:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2024-04-26-223-mechanical-prototype-parts-vs-pre-production-parts-for-plastic-inventions#t=723) Managing Complexity and Experimentation in Hardware

## Topics

- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- MAKO Design + Invent (company)
- Tim Uys (other)
- Kevin Mako (other)
- Dell (company)
- Nike Golf (company)
- Qualcomm (company)
- IRONMAN (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [IDology #2 - Prototyping in product development](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2022-11-15-idology-2-prototyping-in-product-development) (IDology)
- [S1E54 Serendipity in Mechanical Design, Gaining a 6th sense, SolidWorks Top-Down Modeling, How get the Most out of McMaster, Prototyping, SolidSmack Blog | Dan Slaski](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-12-04-s1e54-serendipity-in-mechanical-design-gaining-a-6th-sense-solidworks-top-down-m) (Being an Engineer)
- [S2 E5: Rapid Prototyping Deep Dive with Greg Paulsen](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2024-01-23-s2-e5-rapid-prototyping-deep-dive-with-greg-paulsen) (The Builder Circle)
- [Industrial design prototyping vs simulations - IDology #21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2024-04-30-industrial-design-prototyping-vs-simulations-idology-21) (IDology)
- [DeepDive 1-on-1 Series: MAPPING THE ROUTE - Path to the Summit (20m32s)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/npi-sherpa/2026-02-25-deepdive-1-on-1-series-mapping-the-route-path-to-the-summit-20m32s) (NPI Sherpa)

## Citing this page

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