An initial sample or model of a product built to test and validate the design, functionality, and manufacturability before committing to full-scale production.
A prototype is an early sample, model, or release of a product built to test a concept or process. In manufacturing, prototypes are used to validate product design, test functionality, evaluate materials, and assess manufacturability before investing in mass production tooling.
Prototypes can range from 3D-printed concept models to fully functional pre-production samples made with production-grade materials. The prototyping phase is critical for identifying design flaws and reducing costly changes later. Many manufacturers on FindMyFactory offer prototyping services as a first step in the production partnership.