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Why the prototype always comes before the final device

At first glance, it may look like a bunch of random parts - a piece of plastic from a 3D printer, an aluminum frame, and a few components that resemble a child's kit. But the moment the prototype gets up and running and starts producing its first pieces, that moment of certainty comes: the principle works. That is why at SEMA Designing we build prototypes before the final machine is built.

"What kind of junk are you bringing us?"
We hear this phrase sometimes when we bring a prototype to a presentation. On the table is a piece of 3D printed plastic, a frame made of aluminium profiles and a few parts that look like they were put together from a LEGO kit.

It kind of makes me smile. And a little doubt.
But in a few minutes, everything will change.


From junk to working principle

As soon as the mechanism starts to run and the first real products start to fall from the prototype, the client's smile turns into a surprise.
That moment when doubt is replaced by certainty - that moment when we know we are going right.

We build prototypes for one simple reason: verify the principle before the final machine is built.
That way we can:

  • to test the functionality and reliability of the mechanism,

  • adjust the movements according to the real process,

  • resolve accessibility for maintenance,

  • to verify safety features and the build-up to production.

From the client's point of view, this means confidence that the unique device will fulfil its purpose, while saving time and costs in subsequent production.


The 3D model is just the beginning

The digital 3D concept will show you, what the machine will look like.
But a working prototype will show you, that it will actually work.

Seeing live how a machine handles a product or performs a specific operation gives a completely different level of confidence than visualisation on a screen.
And that's why prototyping is an integral part of every development in the company. SEMA.


Do you have doubts if your production process can be automated?
Trust us with your requirements.
We'll test the principle further before the machine itself is ordered - and you can be sure that the result will work exactly as you want it to.

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