Idea Competitions Just Got More Fun

While most inventors are still providing computer designs, rapid prototyping may make it easier to supply actual working models.

Competitions have been around for a long time now. Originally, people who submitted to them would produce drawings, a short write-up, and perhaps some background research. These days it’s not unusual for a submission to include 3D CAD drawings, sometimes with a short mpeg.

When Li Zijian decided to enter an idea competition, he decided to go the extra mile. “It’s one thing to produce the drawings, but producing a workable prototype, that helps to prove out your idea,” Li says.

He came up with a simple design for a light switch, something a little different than what’s on the market today. His switch doubles as a key holder, but only when the lights are on. If you install the switch next to your front door, you’re not likely to forget to turn the lights off as you leave. These are the types of ideas meant to decrease our carbon footprint by saving energy and, in the long run, help us to save money on utility bills.

The prototype is for an early concept of the idea. Since Li is the designer, he handled everything himself, including ordering the prototype. “It was easy to download my STL file to the ZoomRP.com site,” he explains. Once verified as a buildable part, the component was produced so that it could be delivered the following day.

Since the color and finish of the switch was not an issue for the concept prototypes, ZoomRP.com provided the perfect solution. They manufactured the prototype through a PolyJet process. The PolyJet rapid prototyping process uses ink-jet technology combined with UV curable materials to quickly and economically produce highly detailed and accurate physical prototypes in a variety of materials.

With a layer thickness as small as 16 microns, the PolyJet process is ideal for production detailed prototypes for a variety of industries — and personal projects. PolyJet produces prototypes without support vestiges, as well, which makes it ideal for up-facing and down-facing surfaces.

Pricing for ZoomRP.com is economical enough so that individuals like Li can produce quick and accurate prototypes of their ideas. “A major advantage for this project,” says Li, “was time. Overnight delivery kept me on schedule and allowed me to submit my idea before the deadline.”

Li’s design is still in the concept stages and has not been developed completely yet. He’s planning on producing several more prototypes if necessary. It’s applications like this one that shows the true power of today’s prototyping machines. They are accessible to anyone with a good idea.

For more information, visit www.ZoomRP.com