Product engineering · Switzerland

Prototyping.

DOMTEKNIKA develops prototypes to test ideas in use, verify mechanisms and prepare the next stages of product development.

Discuss your requirements

Technical insight

What should your prototype validate?

We first define what the test must establish: feasibility of a principle, function, ergonomics, robustness or service life. Success criteria then guide the materials, process and level of build. A prototype validates only the aspects it represents and that have actually been tested.

What should your prototype validate?
Validation objective	Suitable build	What to watch
Principle or function	A proof of concept or partial prototype focused on the uncertain mechanism.	Define the expected result; the rest of the product may be outside the test.
Use and integration	A functional or ergonomic prototype representing user actions and interfaces.	Reproduce the conditions of use relevant to the evaluation.
Robustness and service life	A prototype with representative materials, assemblies and loading.	Define loads and cycles; a mock-up alone cannot validate endurance.

A challenge, a real project

ZipFix sternal implant application instrument

From functional prototypes to the first injection-moulded series.

For the application of ZipFix sternal implants, DOMTEKNIKA developed a polymer alternative to the reusable steel instrument. The project combined concept exploration, product development and validation through functional prototypes, followed by supervision of the first injection-moulded series.

View project

When to involve us

Get practical answers before committing to the next development stage.

Verify a function or movement
Test ergonomics and component integration
Improve an existing prototype

Our approach

A prototype should answer a specific question: verify a movement, test ergonomics or demonstrate a function. We define what must be validated before choosing its construction and level of finish.

Choose what to test
Define the question and observation criteria.
Build the useful prototype
Match materials and finish to the planned test.
Test and iterate
Document observations and necessary design changes.

What you receive

Prototype or demonstrator suited to the need
Validation points and test observations
Design revisions for the next development stage

Testing informs design iterations. A functional demonstrator and a production-representative part serve different purposes; the scope is tailored to the decision you need to make.

We agree the scope, tests and deliverables with you before work begins.

Frequently asked questions.

Explore the full FAQ

7 questions

Does a prototype need to look like the final product?

It depends on what needs validation. A POC can isolate a mechanism in a simple test assembly. Ergonomics requires a representative shape; robustness or service life requires suitable materials, assemblies and test conditions.

Is a working prototype ready for production?

Not necessarily. Materials, tolerances, assembly and the production process may need a separate industrialisation stage.

What can a prototype validate?

A principle, function, ergonomics, robustness or service life, depending on the build and the planned tests. We define the criteria before manufacturing. Conclusions remain limited to the functions, materials and conditions actually represented.

Why build several versions?

Each test can reveal something to improve or an assumption to revisit. Successive versions make it possible to test changes and develop the design using concrete observations.

Can you improve an existing prototype?

Yes. We examine its construction, results and the difficulties encountered. Changes are then focused on the functions or operating conditions that still need checking.

How do you know whether a test is successful?

Before testing, define the function, operating conditions and expected result. Observations can then inform a decision: keep the solution, adapt it or carry out another test.

How can we evaluate how people actually use the product?

The prototype and tests should represent the actions and conditions being assessed. Having relevant users handle the product can reveal difficulties with handling, understanding or assembly, which can then guide design changes.

For our first conversation

.What should your next prototype demonstrate?

Your sketches, models and existing test results will help us define what to test and choose a prototype suited to the decision you need to make.