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TechHelp Prototyping Services
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TechHelp's New Product Development (NPD) Team can take an idea from a napkin or drawing and turn it into an actual three-dimensional prototype within hours.
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TechHelp uses prototyping devices, such as the stereo lithography apparatus at right, to produce prototypes or models in hours that typically take weeks and sometimes months to make. Other types of prototyping services we offer include Room Temperature Vulcanized (RTV) molding, machined parts and just building parts by hand with anything around that we can find.
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When developing products of any kind, there is no substitute for prototyping. If a picture is worth 1000 words, a prototype is worth 10,000 pictures. Product development is an iterative process, and we believe prototyping is crucial for true innovation. It helps you to avoid mistakes, come up with breakthrough concepts and say, “ah-ha” on a regular basis. The sooner in the process you prototype, the more time you have to improve and develop your product, and the faster you’ll get it to market.
Pictured at left are various iterations of the Nutri Cap. At right is the finished product. The Nutri Cap is an ingenious way of delivering supplements. The cap can hold various types of flavored supplements that are delivered to the body as water flows over them. Read more here.
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"By making use of TechHelp's ability to rapidly produce and test prototypes, we were able to move quickly from about a 65% level of product satisfaction to about a 95% level."
Scot Soule, Corporate Engineer, Trus Joist
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From left to right above:
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Early drawing of Bolt Collar
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Commercially available Trus Joist Bolt Collar used to install TJ - Shear Panel (purple)
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Prototype made using TechHelp's Stereolithography Apparatus (SLA) (white)
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Prototype made using TechHelp's Stereolithography Apparatus (SLA) (Amber)
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New Prototyping Materials at NPD Lab
Thanks to additional funding from the Idaho State Legislature, TechHelp is adding new prototyping materials that will help us better meet the needs of our clients.
Tom Kelley of IDEO on Prototyping
 Tom Kelley is the general manager of a very successful and innovative design firm called IDEO (www.ideo.com). In his book “The Art of Innovation,” he says: “Prototyping is problem solving. It’s a culture and a language. You can prototype just about anything - a product or service, or a special promotion. What counts is moving the ball forward, achieving some part of your goal. Not wasting time.” (pg. 103)
The key to “not wasting time” is to have prototype capabilities and services close at hand. This is one of the biggest advantages TechHelp and the NPD Lab can offer. We have the capabilities to rapidly and cost effectively create a quality prototype. Prototypes are not cheap, but they are invaluable in the design process. We will talk and work with anyone to help achieve the best functionality and performance out of your new product concept.
Just give us a call!
NPD Lab Manager, Blake Young: 208-426-5635
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