5 Factors to Assess Feasibility in the Prototype Stage

The Right PCB Assembly Company Can Save You Time and Money

A prototype feasibility study is the single most important stage of your product development process. Electronic or electromechanical prototypes are extremely useful in assessing end-product viability before extensive resources are applied. Doing a detailed feasibility analysis can shave months from your total development time and reduce production costs significantly. The PCB assembly experts at Green Circuits point out the 5 factors essential to assess feasibility in the prototype stage.

1. Dimensions: The market for wearables is increasing and so is the demand for stylish, smaller and more intuitive devices. This micro sizing poses the biggest challenge for manufacturers. It means being able to accommodate complex electrical circuit design, sensors and user interface into extremely tight spaces. With the latest PCB technologies being employed by companies like Green Circuits, it is possible to shrink your product’s micro-controller size considerably.  We are able to integrate most of the functions in a single chip, which is essential to reducing the size of your wearable device and overall costs.
2. Heat control: To prevent injury to users, wearable device manufacturers must pay attention to heat dissipation or it could lead to malfunction and burns. As per International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards, the damage threshold is 43°C and the steady-state contact between the skin and the device is defined as over ten minutes. It is important to ensure that heat is spread evenly. Maximizing the area used for heat transfer helps lower operating temperatures.
3. Power demands: Battery life is one of the most important aspects of a wearable device. The electronic circuitry and display features of wearables demand power because they are constantly on. However, limited battery capacity owing to space constraints means having to reduce power consumption. Wireless power transmission is emerging as a key feature to integrate into new wearables, but with it comes the requirement for waterproofing.
4. Manufacturability: Designing for manufacturability can optimize many functions of your product development process, including fabrication, assembly, testing, procurement, shipping, delivery, service, and repair. Use of unique flex circuit technologies, chip on chip packaging, automated assembly or manual assembly—these are all important considerations before you decide to go into production.
5. Material management: Procuring circuits, boards and components in time keeps the supply chain moving smoothly and cost-efficiently. You must make sure the materials meet your timeline and capacity requirements for a volume launch.

Prototype Feasibility Testing—Faster, Cost-Effective Manufacturing

Partnering with the right prototype manufacturer makes all the difference. At Green Circuits, our detailed prototype feasibility assessment and expert advice on cost-effective alternatives have helped hundreds of clients reduce costs and time to market. Engineers from diverse industries such as medical devices, aerospace, semiconductor testing and manufacturing equipment, telecommunications and industrial equipment, rely on us to help them select the best functional configuration, connectors and components for their application. Freedom Innovations Bionic Knee, the Halo headset featured in the Rio Olympics and NASA’s nanosatellites are just a few of the ground-breaking projects we have helped bring to fruition.

Request a quote for prototype feasibility study and PCB assembly or call us today at (408) 526-1700 to speak with a representative about reducing the production time and costs of your upcoming project.