Model Builders Inc Blog

Industrial designers - 2nd of 5 books on the greatest product designs

Posted by Hal Chaffee on Sun, Mar 17, 2013 @ 10:54 PM

"The Design Collection Selected Objects" is the second book review of great product designs. Industrial designers created many of the objects here. This book was published in 1970 by The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Their design collection was established in 1934 and has over 1,800 mass produced or homemade objects. Some 125 of these are exhibited continuously and 85 are pictured in this book. The objects include Tiffany favrile glass vases, a 1932 heat-resistant all glass teapot, multi-colored glass tumblers, a silver and turquoise enamel jewel box, stackable tableware, stackable chairs, a coffee grinder, a desk fan and  other household items plus one random access control panel for the IBM 305 random access memory accounting machine from 1960.

The objects were "selected on the basis of their quality and historical significance to illustrate the development of design in the prior seventy-five years" by the museum Committee on Architecture and Design when Philip Johnson was the Chairman  and Arthur Drexler was the Director, Department of Architecture and Design.

Although not in chronological order each object description lists the year first produced. Like Jay Doblin's book there is one large picture of the object and a description. Unlike Doblin's book the description is very brief and there is no explanation of the significance of the object. There is only one page of general explanation by Arthur Drexler who views the objects as an archeologist might. Basically he says that the objects were made to serve a purpose" and "belong to the 2oth-century category, the "functional". They were not ends in themselves.

The Design Collection resized 600

Some of the objects are both in this book and in Doblin's like the two chairs shown below as well as The Alvar Aalto Bent Plywood Chair 1934, The Eames Plywood Chair 1947, the Olivetti Lettera Typewriter 1950, the  Eames Lounge Chair 1957 and the Saarinen Stem Chair 1957. Unlike Doblin's book there are no automobiles, airplanes, helicopters and only a few electronic or mechanical devices.

Marcel Breuer Side Chair 1928

 Marcel Breuer Side Chair 1928

Barcelona Chair 1929 resized 600

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe Barcelona Chair 1929

Braun Portable Radio and Phonoggraph 1959 resized 600

 Portable Radio and Phonograph 1959 (Mfr. Braun)

Vacuum Cleaner 1958 and Vacuum Brush 1955 resized 600

Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni Vacuum Cleaner 1956

Giuseppe de Goetzen Vacuum Brush 1955

David Gammon Turntable 1964

David Gammon Turntable 1964 (Mfr. Transcripters, Ltd.)

Racing Driver's Helmut 1962

Roy Richter and Frank Heacox Racing Driver's Helmut (Mfr. Bell-Toptex, Inc.)

"The Design Collection - Selected Objects" plus Jay Doblin's "One Hundred Great Product Designs" provide insight into the impact of industrial design in the 20th Century prior to 1970. Doblin's book however provides great written insight into the significance of each object in his book. 

An interesting side book to read from this era might be "California Design, 1930--1965: "Living in a Modern Way" edited by Wendy Kaplan.  It is based on a 2012 exhibit of the same name that originated at the Los Angles County Museum of Art. Charles Eames and other designers are featured.

Do you have a favorite book on industrial design prototypes, products or designers? Please let us know by posting a comment. If you have any questions or would like to discuss prototypes or other projects contact us at Model Builders, Inc. 773-586-6500 or info@modelbuilders.net .

Tags: product model, prototype, industrial designer, model builders, model maker, prototypes, prototype models, industrial design, product models, model builder, industrial scale model, industrial designers, prototype model

Industrial designers - 5 books on the greatest product designs

Posted by Hal Chaffee on Mon, Mar 11, 2013 @ 08:31 PM

"One Hundred Great Product Designs" by industrial designer Jay Doblin is the 1st of our 5 book reviews. Published in 1970 this book is a classic and sets the format for several similar books published later - products are in a chronological order, there is one large picture per product and there is a concise history of each product.

Doblin - One Hundred Great Products

The Industrial Age resulted in thousands of products based on whatever the machinery could make efficiently. Industrial designers starting in the 20th Century managed to create a much smaller number of very carefully designed mass produced products. Henry Drefyus, Raymond Loewy, Norman Bel Gettes and other well known industrial designers were able to design the look of the future - often with streamlining and styling. In this book Jay Doblin takes us on a chronological journey of 100 great product designs from the 1742 Franklin Stove to 1965 Bell Trimline Telephone.

Jay Doblin went to Pratt Institute and was an executive designer with Raymond Loewy Associates from 1942 to 1955. For the next 14 years he was the director of the Institute of Design at the Illinois Institute of Technology. This book is the result of 10 years of research by the faculty at IIT in an effort "to find out which product designs were considered "great", and why". Only mass produced items designed, manufactured and distributed for sale were considered.

Some of the 100 Great Product Designs are:

Aircraft: Douglas DC-3 Airliner 1934, #51 Beechcraft Bonanza 1947, Sikorski S-58 Helicopter 1949 and #96 Learjet 1963.

Appliances: #19 Electrolux Vacuum Cleaner 1918, #35 Coldspot Refrigerator 1937, #42 Chemex Coffee Maker 1941, #49 Thermador Built-in Oven 1946, #73 General Electric Wall-hung Refrigerator and Kitchen Center 1954, #81 Frigidaire Fold-back Surface Cooking Burners, 1955, #82 NuTone Built-in Mixer 1955, #84 Braun KM3 Kitchen Machine 1957, #86 Frigidaire Sheer Look Major Appliances 1957 and #89 Tappen 400 Range 1958.

Toastmaster toaster 1938

Automobiles: #13 Rolls-Royce 1907, #14 Fort Model T 1908, #30 La Salle 1935, #32 Cord 810 1936, #36  Volkswagen 1937, #38 Lincoln Continental 1939, #43 Willy's Jeep 1941, #45 Cisitalia 1946, #54 Studebaker 1947, #55 MG Model TC 1948, #57 Porsche 3561952, #70 Studebaker 1953, #77 Citroen DS-19 1955 and #97 Ford Mustang 1964.

Cameras: #8 Kodak Brownie Camera 1900, #20 Leica Camera 1925, #32 Bolex H-16 Motion-Picture Camera 1936, #53 Hasselblad 500C and #57 Polaroid Land Camera 1948. 

China: #23 Arzberg China 1931, #33 American Modern Dinnerware 1937 and #44 Castleton Museum White Dinnerware 1946.

Typewriters: #29 Hermes Portable 1935, #63 Olivetti Lettera 1950 and #93 IBM Selectric 1961.

Hough Payloader

Industrial designer Jon W. Hauser from engineering firm Barnes & Reinecke updated the design and appearance of the Hough Payloader to reflect its superior performance. This proved that "integrated design and engineering could increase sales and pride of ownership in heavy-duty equipment."

Model Builders, Inc. was fortunate to work starting in 1950 with many notable industrial designers such as Jon W. Hauser, Raymond Loewy, Richard Latham and Dave Chapman.  One model we built was a 1/4 scale Hough Payloader that duplicated all the hydraulic actions of the front end loader by using minature cylinders and a new reversible pump unit.  The Hough Payloader model was a hit with potential customers at tradeshows and was written up in detail on two pages in the December 1956 issue of Applied Hydraulics magazine. Another project was creating two full size prototype seats and the custom ashtray prototypes for Raymond Loewy's Scenicruiser bus. The Greyhound logo and Scenicruiser bus are excellent examples of Loewy's styling and streamlining designs.

Greyhound Scenicruiser resized 600

Doblin thought most of the current design then was "commercial and vulgar" but "the future had possiblities for excellence". He saw that the combination of what he called intellectronics and automation was producing abundant supplies with less labor and that cities were becoming centers of information handling, not manufacturing. Doblin included #87 the IBM RAMAC Computer 1957 with its disc storage in this book. He thought the computer would help man control increasingly complex systems and "result in a brighter, more rational world where cooperation replaces competition." Power would be based on knowledge and that would make education more important for everyone.

"One Hundred Great Product Designs" is a classic book that captures the impact that industrial designers made on mass produced products. The list first appeared on pages 135-141 of the April 1959 issue of Fortune magazine http://www.fulltable.com/vts/f/fortune/design/a.htm  along with a interesting explanation of how the list was selected. What makes this book exceptional is the carefully written explanation of the design significance of each product.

Do you have a favorite book on industrial design prototypes, products or designers? Please let us know by posting a comment. If you have any questions or would like to discuss prototypes or other projects contact us at Model Builders, Inc. 773-586-6500 or info@modelbuilders.net .

 

 

Tags: construction equipment models, product model, prototype, industrial designer, model builders, model maker, prototypes, prototype models, industrial design, product development, product models, model builder, industrial scale model, industrial designers, prototype model

Why do industrial designers use a model maker?

Posted by Hal Chaffee on Mon, Mar 04, 2013 @ 10:39 PM

Industrial designers hire a model shop or use an in-house model shop to build physical prototypes of new products and other ideas. Knowledge of prototyping, materials and manufacturing techniques enable the model maker to refine an idea from two dimensions into a physical model that turns that idea into a product.

Here are 8 reasons why industrial designers use model shops:

1) Reality. As stated on page 132 in the 1947 book "Design for Business" by J. Gordon Lippincott

  "Before any design goes into mass production, a full scale model should be made and, if at all feasible, an operating model.  The costs of tooling, merchandising and advertising are so great that any economies gained by skipping the model-making step are more than offset by the greater risk of producing an article that lacks consumer acceptance through failures in styling or function.

Renderings are particularly misleading and should serve only the function of stimulating new, fresh, creative thinking.  In other words renderings are only the expressions of the idea stage.  As soon as a proposed form for a new product has been selected, models should be produced - in full scale wherever possible or practical. Half and quarter-scale models are completely misleading because most people do not have the ability to appreciate changes in scale.  A molding on a quarter-scale model of a refrigerator may look perfectly satisfactory, but when the same design is enlarged to full scale, the molding will be completely out of proportion  - usually too large."

Raymond Loewy ashtray

Raymond Loewy stainless steel ashtray prototype for the 1954 Greyhound Scenicruiser bus

2) Capability. The industrial designer usually needs a model maker that has a shop with a variety of capabilities including machining, rapid prototyping, woodworking and finishing work such as sanding and painting. The space, machinery and model making talent needed to produce the industrial designer's prototypes and appearance models are simply too expensive to do at the industrial designer's location unless there is a constant volume of work to do.

The larger industrial design firms like IDEO and large companies like Steelcase tend to have an in-house model shop to create prototypes and appearance models. However for peak loads of work, special expertise or equipment, and a short run of parts they may use an independent model shop.

3) Expertise in materials. Professional model makers know from practical experience what materials may best meet the demands of the designer's intentions and the conditions a product will face. 

RAYOVAC ROUGHNECK flashlight

RAYOVAC ROUGHNECK flashlight - adjusts from Spot to Flood

4) Speed. Initial prototypes may be quicker if made in thin acrylic or styrene with vacuum forming.  Rapid prototyping is also used to create quick prototypes once the computer CAD work is done.  Machining plastic or metal is often the best way to create the final model since there usually can be much finer detail, more durable material and less finishing work. 

5) Product development. The initial design is tested with potential customers to see how well the product design works. Sometimes the product when held doesn't feel balanced. Many prototypes may have to be built and tested sequentially with changes before the product is ready to sell in the marketplace. Design is a collaborative process and model makers help the industrial designer perfect his craft.

prototype welding handle

Bernard welding handle final prototype

6) Appearance. A passion to do finishing work, the right grit of sandpaper, the right primer, the right shade of paint, a gloss, semi-gloss or flat finish often determine the success of a new product. The texture and finish must be the same as the final product. We hired one model maker because he could produce a flawless high gloss black finish on a wood base 10" high X 48" X 96". Sometimes industrial designers specify a specific model maker because of his or her superior finishing work.

7) Testing. Sometimes a design looks good on paper but doesn't work right when a prototype is built. The best model makers have the mechanical and electrial skills to help solve those problems.

8) Imagination. You never know when someone else's imagination, expertise, experience or knowledge may improve a product design. Model makers at in-house shop usually have a great knowledge of a particular product's history and techniques that were used to make that type of product.

Independent model shops often have a broad range of experience and may bring in new ideas from their diverse experiences.  At our independent model shop we sometimes find ourselves delving into a dusty two volume set of books titled "Ingenious Mechanisms For Designers and Inventors" that was first published in 1930 with chapter titles like "Intermittent Motion" to create special mechanical motions for a new product. Mechanisms in this book have already passed two important tests - (1) these are designs of mechanisms that will function properly and (2) they are simplified designs which normally are less costly to manufacture and more durable. This is just one example of the resources and experiences that model makers have. Last week we found a new nanotechnology based consumer product that removes and then prevents fingerprints on stainless steel.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss prototypes or other projects contact us at Model Builders, Inc. 773-586-6500 or info@modelbuilders.net .

 

 

 

 

Tags: construction equipment models, industrial scale models, product model, engineering model, prototype, industrial designer, model builders, model maker, prototypes, prototype models, industrial design, product development, product models, model builder, industrial scale model, industrial designers, prototype model

Museum model of ARAMCO oil rig 7' high is a Saudi highlight

Posted by Hal Chaffee on Fri, Jan 04, 2013 @ 05:44 PM

The Saudi Aramco Exhibit is in a high-tech museum near Saudi Aramco's headquarters in Dhahran and is dedicated to energy education. There are 8 permanent sections to find out about oil production, Saudi Aramco's history and Arab-Islamic history. Also included are many temporary exhibits. Important information is combined with fun for youngsters and the family as well. There is a 3-D film "Energy to the World", a variety of ingenious hands on displays and interactive computer games to involve, intrigue and educate visitors. Every year the exhibit attracts tens of thousands of school children and international visitors.

The Saudi Aramco Exhibit opened in 1987. It features three dimensional models such as the 7' high detailed oil rig model shown below. 

Oil was first discovered in Saudi Arabia in 1938 and ARAMCO later became the largest oil producer in the world. The exhibit dramatically tells the story of the petroleum industry and relates it to over 10 centuries of Islam (from the 7th to the 17th Century) technological advances and heritage. By the mid-ninth Century Arabic had become the international language of scientific thought.

Recently a National Geographic book "1001 Inventions - The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Civilization" (now in its Third Editon) and a traveling exhibition "1001 Inventions" (originally opening in the United Kingdom in 2006) has exposed millions of people to the Muslim technological advances and heritage. Currently the "1001 Inventions" exhibition is at the National Geographic Society in Washington, DC until February 3, 2013. We like to think "1001 Inventions" exhibit is based on the pioneering ARAMCO Exhibit that opened in 1987.

Oil Rig model 8' high

This 7' high oil rig model scale is 1/2"=1'-0" or 1:24. The model is in a scale that people can relate to and easily comprehend the entire oil rig as well as the details.

Oil Rig Model - Hook

Oil Rig Model - Traveling Block, Hook and Swivel

Visitors are inherently attracted to a highly detailed model such as this oil rig that looks realistic. The traveling block and hook above are part of the hoisting system. Below them is the swivel which is part of the equipment that rotates the drill. This is a Loffland Brothers Rotary Rig. 

The model is all brass construction that is silver soldered into a very strong welded bond that enables this fine level of model detail as well as durabilty. It will withstand exposure to extreme temperatures if it is ever displayed outdoors or transported in a vehicle that is not air conditioned. 

Oil Rig Model - Monkeyboard

Oil Rig Model - Monkeyboard

Fine detail like the monkeyboard platform is possible with the strong silver solder welding of the brass. The monkey board is used as the oil rig man’s work platform. The monkey board is located at a particular height in the derrick or mast. It is the same height as single, double or triple pipes.

Oil Rig Model Mud Return Line

Oil Rig Model - Crown Block

The crown block is a fixed set of pulleys (called sheaves) located at the top of the oil rig mast over which the drilling cable is threaded. The companion blocks to these pulleys are the traveling blocks. By using two sets of blocks a great mechanical advantage is gained. Consequently small steel drilling cable (3/4" to 1-1/2" diameter) can be used to hoist loads many times heavier than the cable could support as a single strand.

Colorful museum catalogs at the entrance (according to the Saudi Aramco World magaine November/December 1992 issue) go right to the point of the Exhibit that "it is meant to be a place for joyful learning...a carvansary for the curious" revealing secrets about the past, present and the juxtaposition of the two".

If you have any questions or would like to discuss oil rig models, site models, ship models, plant layout or process models, industrial models, nuclear training models, topographic models or other projects contact us at Model Builders, Inc. 773-586-6500 or info@modelbuilders.net .

Tags: construction equipment models, industrial scale models, product model, engineering model, product models, industrial scale model, museum model, process model

Prototypes move ideas into the marketplace

Posted by Hal Chaffee on Sun, Dec 02, 2012 @ 08:34 PM

Over many years we have worked with passionate inventors who are trying to develop a new product.  "For every 1,000 patents only about four or five will succeed and make money" per the article "A 'million-dollar' idea?" in Machine Design magazine. Developing a prototype model is an important step in determining which way your invention may go.

Wheelchair Prototype

Our conversations with inventors often cover points like these:

- What physical, mechanical or electrical principles does this invention depend on? The idea might be a good one but may need some engineering assistance to ensure that it works. A high school coach came to us with an idea for a broad jump foul detector. He did not know what type of beam should be used to trigger the detector. We did the electrical and mechanical work for his laser activated detector. 

- Have you tried to make a physical mock up of this product yourself? Our experience is that only about one-third of the population can visualize things well in three dimensions. We often see drawings of an idea that looks good on paper but simply doesn't work or is more complex when a prototype is built. One client had a patent with step by step drawings showing how parallel parts could move together both vertically and horizontally. When we built a prototype, it didn't work. Fortunately we were able to solve that problem.

- Are you planning to produce and market the final product? Inventors have often not thought that far ahead. For example prototype details may vary depending on whether small or large production runs are planned. A prototype can be used to get feedback from users, investors, manufacturers and the marketplace. That information helps determine the final design, product cost and success of the product. Once we created the working detector, we referred the high school coach to an industrial design firm to help optimize user factors and the manufacturing cost. 

- Have you done your homework on what it takes for your invention to succeed? I recommend that inventors read "How I Made Millions With Just a Few Simple Ideas" by Robert M. Hayes. This guide shows with real examples how to increase invention success. Is a patent necessary? Will the invention sell? Most inventors assume the world will beat a path to their door but that rarely happens. This book illustrates how to sell and make money from ideas that may or may not be patented.

LettuceSlicer

Converting an idea to reality is often difficult. Many good ideas die in the developmental stage because implementation requires special skills and tools. You need a model builder who can provide the ingenuity, experience, equipment and material to crystallize your idea.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss prototypes or other projects contact us at Model Builders, Inc. 773-586-6500 or info@modelbuilders.net .

 

 

 

Tags: product model, prototype, prototypes, prototype models, product models, prototype model

Is a product model or prototype required with a patent application?

Posted by Hal Chaffee on Mon, Oct 01, 2012 @ 11:48 AM

"Is a product model or prototype required with a patent application?" is a question we often hear. The answer today is no. The US Patent of Act of April 10, 1790 required a patent model. if possible. The  US Patent Act of July 4, 1836 required a patent model until 1880. Each inventor submitted a model "not more than 12 inches square" along with the patent application as an aid to the patent examiner to determine the originality of the invention. 

Prototypes, although not ever required, are usually advisable because they help others visualize the idea and prove that it works. Prototypes help a lot when you are trying to sell or license your patent idea to others. They also help when you go to a manufacturer so they can determine what the parts might cost.

Rarely can you build a prototype straight from the patent drawing(s). Here are some important points to keep in mind when having a prototype built of your patent idea.

  • Patent drawings illustrate the concept and are not meant to be engineering drawings. Measurements when shown in a patent are often a range within which the concept can work. However, many inventors we talk with think all they need to give us is the patent illustrations to have us build a prototype.

Sawhorse Patent

  • To build or hire someone else to build a prototype requires that you provide or they create detailed drawings with measurements. If you go to a model shop, an industrial design firm or engineering firm with just your patent they will have to first create drawings with measurements that they can build from.
  • First you may want to do a series of rough prototypes and have people test them until you determine potential problems and what variation of your idea has the best chance of being sucessful.
  • Inventors sometimes want to build a final product model of their patent idea and then go out and market it to others.  It is probably a waste of money to try to build the final product in the beginning. If the idea is licensed to others they may want to modify your patent idea or use different production equipment which can't make the product exactly like yours.  So the money you spent to make your idea exactly like you wanted may be wasted. Furthermore you should probably use a rough prototype with people to test and see if it works well or needs improvement before it goes into production.
  • We sometimes see inventors whose ideas when built as they describe, don't work. One patent was for something that worked in more than one direction.  The product as shown in the patent illustrations looked to the inventor and the patent examiner like a product that would work.  The inventor even had a series of drawings showing step by step how it worked.  However as we started to build the prototype it didn't work as drawn.  Fortunately we were able to change the design to make it work. Until you build a prototype and test it you may not know for sure if the idea works at all. 

ThePatentBook

If you are interested in the history of patents to gain a perspective on what works you may want to read "The Patent Book An Illustrated Guide and History for Inventors, Designers and Dreamers" by James Gregory and Kevin Mulligan. A&W Publishers, Inc. New York, New York. 1979. ISBN: 0-89479-037-4. Hardcover: 126 pages. This book covers the history of patents, who needs a patent, how a patent is obtained, the proper selling strategy behind the invention, and a list of common mistakes made by new inventors and how to avoid them. Along with an illustrated review of 50 famous patents – some of which changed the course of American history – are actual drawings from the patents. Hopefully this book enables you to see why some ideas succeeded and others failed.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss a patent model, prototype or other projects contact us at Model Builders, Inc. 773-586-6500 or info@modelbuilders.net .

 

 

Tags: product model, prototype, product models, prototype model

Scale models as an award make it very special!

Posted by Hal Chaffee on Mon, Aug 13, 2012 @ 11:08 PM

Model builders are sometimes requested to make a custom model or award for a special presentation. Here are three unique award examples and some things to think about.

The 5" X 7" award pictured below holds a 2" diameter artistic glass globe with all seven continents that the recipient can spin with his or her thumb(s). This interaction engages the recipient and others who see it.

The model builder both created the design and did the fabrication. The two clear acrylic panels slide together below the ball and are bonded together. If the award happens to fall these two clear panels help protect the expensive glass globe from breaking.

The name of the person being recognized and the organization giving the award is engraved on it. Prior to this design the plan was to just put each globe in a nice wood box to protect it and add a engraved brass plate with the award information to the top of the box.

Award scale model

Shown in the picture below is a 18" diameter logo made from Legos which was ingeniously used to symbolize how a company was built brick by brick under the guidance of its founder. The original concept was going to be about 12" high.  However with guidance from the model builder the client soon realized that the logo in Legos had to be about 50% bigger in order to more closely resemble the company's logo.

This Lego logo wraps around all sides of 5/8" thick clear acrylic sheet which was cut into the shape of a round head with a neck. A five sided clear acrylic dust cover (not shown) was included.

scale model award

Model kits when made with fine craftsmanship and quality materials are very meaningful to the recipient in industries such as transportation when that person's work is related to a product such as a railroad tank car. The model can be customized to have the same markings and details that relate most to that person. 

With model kits the details are very important and get noticed.  Is the lettering crisp or is it fuzzy? Is the lettering straight or crooked? Round tank cars are not easy to paint. Does the paint finish look the same on the whole model? Does the dust cover fit snugly or is it loose? Are the right couplers used on the railcar? Are the screws that attach the model to the wood base hidden behind the wheels or are they visible under the middle of the railcar?

You should consider seeing in person an example of a similar model or at least close up pictures of it before placing an order.

award, scale model

Model Builders, Inc. is known for creative thinking and fine craftsmanship. If you are looking for a custom model to award to a person or company take the next step by contacting us at Model Builders, Inc., 773-586-6500 or info@modelbuilders.net .

Tags: railroad equipment model, product model, product models, award, awards, custom awards

Big product models get your customer's attention

Posted by Hal Chaffee on Sun, Aug 05, 2012 @ 08:56 PM

Vodka bottle - large prop

How do you get your product noticed? Maybe you should think big to make that product stand out! That is what FRIS vodka did.  They had an eleven foot high vodka model made, put it in a truck with clear sides, added a snow scene around the bottle and drove it to events.

Bosch Convection Oven

The convection oven model in the back is twice the size of the real one in the front.  By making the sides and front clear the "heat arrows" inside show the path of the heat in the convection oven for even cooking. The model is close to 8 feet high with the signs on top.  An ideal size for viewing the heat arrows that highlight the flow path of the hot air in this convection oven.

Drill bit - 8 feet long

 Even a drill bit becomes dramatic when it is made as a scale model 8 feet long and then used in a trade show. Craftsmanship, precision fabrication, a careful choice of paint color and a nice coat  of paint create a model that looks like the real thing...only larger.

Model Builders, Inc. is known for dramatic, realistic product models in a variety of scales. Take the next step by contacting us at Model Builders, Inc., 773-586-6500 or info@modelbuilders.net .

 

 

 

Tags: product model, product models, props

3 advantages of a product model versus the real product in an exhibit

Posted by Hal Chaffee on Tue, May 29, 2012 @ 08:35 PM

One of the easiest things to use to attact visitors to your exhibit booth is your product  because that is what you are selling. However you may be overlooking the advantages of using a product model instead.  Here are three examples of exhibits where there was a very significant advantage to using a product model versus the real product.

(1) The first advantage is a savings in weight and therefore cost. Below is a photograph of a replica model of a track welding machine which is 12' X 4' X 3'.  The cost to ship the real machine which weighs close to 15,000 lbs. is quite high. Then the expense to move a real track welding machine into the exhibit booth and set it up is also high. However a replica model made out of ABS plastic instead of steel like the real product weighed less than 1,000 lbs. The shipping cost savings for the first tradeshow alone can pay for the model.

product model

(2) The second advantage of a product model versus the real product is you can make a large real product as a much smaller product model which enables you to ship the product model to more tradeshows for the same cost as one tradeshow. Furthermore for really large products like some mining trucks the real product is too big to even fit in an exhibit hall.  Shown below at 1:16 scale is a mining truck model which is about 33" long which has been shipped to tradeshows around the world.

product model

 (3) The third advantage of a product model is that an expensive product such as medical equipment with expensive components can be replaced by a product model greatly reducing the cost of shipping insurance. The model cost about 1/15 the cost of the real  lithotriper.The lithotripter model shown below also was made at 1:3 scale to make it small enough for the sales force to drive it to their clients locations in addition to the use of the model at tradeshows. The mechanical arm moved exactly like the real lithotripter. 

product model

The benefits of product models are real. If you would like information on having a product model fabricated contact us at Model Builders, Inc. 773-586-6500 or info@modelbuilders.net .

Tags: construction equipment models, industrial scale models, railroad equipment model, product model, product models, industrial scale model, tradeshow product models

4 Advantages of Prototype Models

Posted by Hal Chaffee on Wed, May 09, 2012 @ 11:13 AM

Prototype models can make your product more successful at any stage of its life cycle. A prototype is a preliminary design or scale model representation of the final product. It allows your team and your customers to understand the product. You can take it to photo shoots, trade shows, or the customer's site. Below is a look at four of the advantages of using prototypes.

Preview the Final Product:

A prototype model can be an early representation of the final product, done to exact dimensions or to a larger or smaller scale. In addition, the prototype may be cutaway to showcase the internal components or have mechanical movement that demonstrates the operations of the product.

Prototypes are particularly important since they give a general picture of products that are still in development, and whose requirements are not entirely known. Until you can see and touch the prototype you often don't discover what works and what doesn't. Is it too big or too small? Will it actually work and if so how well? Do people like the look of the product in three dimensions? Can it be manufactured at an affordable cost?

A prototype enables all parties to visualize the product quickly and communicate what insights they have for the final product. You can find out if the prototype meets the requirements of potential users and then make changes before the final product is ready for production. The prototype is also the focal point for discussion with the design and engineering team.  The final product is a result of the fusion of design, marketing and engineering input as well as potential user interaction with a prototype.

prototype

       The first prototype at 2 times scale used to build demand at a tradeshow

Reduce the Cost of Development and Production:

Using a prototype model enables you to demonstrate the concept of your product and discover any flaws. You have the opportunity to correct these flaws, or come up with solutions for improving the product. This reduces the risk of your product failing. Hence, the cost of development and production is drastically reduced because you don't have to fix problems later after the final product is already in production.

LettuceSlicer

Reduce the Time Needed for Product Development:

Once you have a prototype of your product, you are able to see it completely in 3D. The system requirements are defined as much as possible during the prototype process which is early in the product development. You are able to have a better idea of what the final product will look like, as well as its strengths and weaknesses. This knowledge enables you to accelerate the product development because using the prototype can get you feedback from all parties at the beginning of the product development cycle.

Many firms still are bouncing new product development back and forth between the finance, marketing, sales, and production departments, etc. without using a prototype to get input from all relevant departments early in the product development cycle. This bouncing around among departments results in a longer product development cycle.

Increase User Participation in Product Development:

When you create a prototype of your product, consumers get the opportunity to study it and give suggestions or observations. Users can test the functionality of the product and give feedback. In this way, consumers have the opportunity to help you improve your product. In addition, you can develop a product that is more appealing to consumers since you will be using their direct input.

Usually a new product is developed with a series of prototype models that are reviewed and improved by those who will be involved with the design, marketing & manufacture of the product and potential users. This normally increases the odds of success for the product in the marketplace.

For more information on prototypes or having a prototype fabricated contact Model Builders, Inc or call 773-586-6500.

Tags: product model, engineering model, prototype, model maker, prototypes, prototype models, product models, model builder, prototype model