A plastic prototype is a type of prototype that is developed or manufactured with plastic as the main material. The difference between this and other types of prototypes, such as sheet metal, stems not only from the use of plastic, but also from the benefits attached to the use of plastic as a material for prototype development. Some of these benefits include the fact that the use of this material reduces the time it would take to create the prototype and that it would make it easier and cheaper to correct any mistakes in the design of the product. The best tips for making a plastic prototype include engaging the services of professionals if the design is one that does not lend itself to easy prototype development and ensuring that any design flaws in the prototype are worked out at this stage.
Due to their complexity some concepts might be harder for an individual designer to develop on a personal basis. Some developers are able to create prototypes for concepts that are simple enough in order to get a clearer idea of the concept at hand. For instance, an architect could utilize such a prototype to create a visual of a construction project design. Depending on the complexity or simplicity of design, people might be able to develop the plastic prototype through their own personal efforts, or they may contract the services of an independent plastic prototype fabricator. In either case, it is up to the designer to access the design with the view of finding out if the plastic prototype can be developed personally or if the services of commercial fabricators will be required.
Where the plastic prototype fabrication has been outsourced to a commercial fabricator, the designer will still play an important role in the process, because he or she will have to ensure that the design is what was imagined. Usually, the designer will submit a drawing illustrating the concept, and the plastic prototype fabricator will figure out the best way in which to achieve the desired outcome. To this end, the designer will have to select the type of plastic prototype, since there are several options, including three-dimensional printing, the production of plastic models, and the production of laminated objects. The purpose of using the plastic model is mainly to allow the designer to quickly receive feedback and to cheaply make any corrections to the design.
