Prototyping
A prototype is basically a demonstration of your device (in this course, the prototype may also be the final device). It is the fully operational version of the engineering solution, although it can be made with different materials (which are cheaper and easier to work with) than the final version.
Prototypes allow you to test how your solution will work - and you can show the solution to others for feedback.
After watching this video, check out the Eight rules for prototyping.
Watch a YouTube playlist of all the videos for the 'Mechanical Engineering Design' lecture series
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