Prototyping Using Temporary Molds and 3d Printed Samples for Amazon Sellers
Seller Sessions · with Sharon Even · September 5, 2022 · 26 min
Summary
Amazon sellers can drastically cut product development costs and risks by adopting a two-stage prototyping process. Instead of immediately investing in expensive permanent molds, first leverage 3D printing for rapid design validation, then utilize temporary molds for pre-production samples. This iterative approach allows for thorough testing and design adjustments at a fraction of the cost, ensuring a validated product before committing to mass production tooling.
Key takeaways
Before investing in a permanent mold, create a 3D printed sample to quickly visualize and test design aesthetics and basic functionality.
Utilize temporary molds (made from less expensive materials like aluminum or specialized epoxies) for pre-production sampling to produce a small batch of high-quality, testable units.
Thoroughly test samples from temporary molds to identify issues, validate performance, and even gather initial customer feedback before committing to final, expensive production molds.
Budget for iteration: The cost of redoing a temporary mold is significantly lower than altering or remaking a permanent production mold, providing a crucial buffer for design adjustments.
Adopt this two-stage prototyping to validate designs with tangible, functional prototypes, mitigating financial risks and costly errors before mass production.
When developing a product and adding a design change, you may find yourself needing to have molds done before even having a sample made... however... what happens when you first pay for the mold, then receive your sample and the product needs to be slightly changed ????? Now you need a new mold...and this can get very costly! On Thursdays with Sharon Even, Sharon shares how she recently had a sample 3d printed before the final design was made and sent to the supplier and then had a temporary mold made for the pre-production sampling. This process could save you thousands and is something every product developer should know.
What does this episode say about supply chain & operations?
Before investing in a permanent mold, create a 3D printed sample to quickly visualize and test design aesthetics and basic functionality.
What does this episode say about product & merchandising?
Utilize temporary molds (made from less expensive materials like aluminum or specialized epoxies) for pre-production sampling to produce a small batch of high-quality, testable units.
What does this episode say about finance & fundraising?
Thoroughly test samples from temporary molds to identify issues, validate performance, and even gather initial customer feedback before committing to final, expensive production molds.
What does this episode say about supply chain & operations?
Budget for iteration: The cost of redoing a temporary mold is significantly lower than altering or remaking a permanent production mold, providing a crucial buffer for design adjustments.
What does this episode say about supply chain & operations?
Adopt this two-stage prototyping to validate designs with tangible, functional prototypes, mitigating financial risks and costly errors before mass production.
