{"id":12036,"key":"Prototyping","title":"Prototyping","latest":{"id":1207465,"timestamp":"2025-11-27T22:18:04Z"},"content_model":"wikitext","license":{"url":"https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights","title":"CC-BY-SA-4.0"},"source":"'''Prototyping''' is used in [[engineering]] to test the functionality of a part or device. A prototype is an original type, form, or instance of something serving as a typical example, basis, or standard for other things of the same category.\n\nThe most common use of the word prototype is a functional, although experimental, version of a non-military machine (e.g., automobiles, domestic appliances, consumer electronics) whose designers would like to have built by mass production means, as opposed to a mockup, which is an inert representation of a machine's appearance, often made of some non-durable substance.\n\nFor those working on more complicated [[appropriate technology]] prototyping facilities are sometimes necessary for the more complex components if they are not already available commercially. The following fabrication laboratories might be useful for demonstrating [[open source technology]].\n\n[[RepRap]] 3D printers are an extremely inexpensive way to do prototyping for many projects - as the RepRap community has now developed [[open-source metal 3d printer]]s there are few limitations remaining to use the technology to do most rapid prototyping work.\n\n== SSBX Fab Lab ==\n\n[http://www.ssbx.org/ Sustainable South Bronx] has a [http://web.archive.org/web/20170914095056/http://ssbxfab.org/ Fab lab] which can be used to do some 2D work with a laser cutter AND a shopbot (CNC router for a 4'x8' plywood).\n\n== Ponoko ==\n\nCommercially [http://www.ponoko.com/ Ponoko] allows you to upload EPS files and will give you a quote for laser cutting several different materials. Ponoko beleives that the [[post-industrial revolution]] is changing the way products are created, traded and distributed. Now everyone can engage in the manufacturing process through their PCs - bringing [[personal manufacturing]] of individualized products to the masses. Ponoko is basically an online space for a community of creators and consumers to use a global network of digital manufacturing hardware to co-create, make and trade individualized product ideas on demand.\n\n* A review at [http://web.archive.org/web/20110913132731/http://www.treehugger.com:80/files/2007/10/reviewed_2d_des.php Treehugger]\n\n== Pages in category \"Prototyping\" ==\n\n{{List\n| category = Prototyping\n}}\n\n{{Page data\n| license = CC-BY-SA-3.0\n| authors = User:J.M.Pearce\n}}\n\n[[Category:How tos]]\n[[Category:Engineering]]\n[[Category:Technology]]"}