{"id":204,"date":"2026-11-03T17:09:02","date_gmt":"2026-11-03T17:09:02","guid":{"rendered":"https://volkengineering.fr/prototype-invention-conception/"},"modified":"2026-11-03T17:09:02","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T17:09:02","slug":"prototype-invention-conception","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https://volkengineering.fr/en/prototype-invention-conception/","title":{"rendered":"Designing the prototype of your invention"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">An idea, and the wish to see it work</h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A tool you're missing, a mechanism imagined in the workshop, an object that doesn't exist yet: between the idea and a working prototype lie technical choices. Shape, material, mechanism, manufacturing. That is the design engineer's job, applied to your project.</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">From idea to prototype</h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Analysis</strong> — what the object must do, its constraints, its real use.</li>\n\n<li><strong>Concept</strong> — one or more technical solutions, explained and compared.</li>\n\n<li><strong>3D design</strong> — complete model, parts and assembly.</li>\n\n<li><strong>Prototype</strong> — 3D printing to validate the shape, a machined part for tests that need strength.</li>\n\n<li><strong>Tests and corrections</strong> — test, correct, repeat if necessary.</li>\n</ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Which prototype for what?</h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A form prototype checks appearance and handling; a functional prototype checks that the mechanism really works. The right choice depends on what must be proven, and on budget: no point machining what a 3D print can validate.</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">And after the prototype?</h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The model and drawings are yours: you can have a few copies made, present the project to a partner or consult manufacturers. The drawings are prepared for that (see <a href=\"https://volkengineering.fr/en/plan-piece-usinage-calcul-resistance/\">machining drawings</a>).</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently asked questions</h2>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Does my idea stay confidential?</summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. Nothing is shared or reused, and a non-disclosure agreement can be signed before the first technical discussion.</p>\n</details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Should I file a patent before telling you about it?</summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are considering a patent, seek advice from INPI (the French patent office) or an IP attorney before any public disclosure. A non-disclosure agreement protects our discussions, but Volk Engineering does not file patents.</p>\n</details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>I only have a drawing on paper: is that enough?</summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. That's often how a project starts: the first discussion is about understanding the idea and seeing how to make it feasible.</p>\n</details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>How much does a prototype cost?</summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It depends on the complexity of the object and the type of prototype. After a first discussion, you receive a costed proposal, step by step.</p>\n</details>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An idea for an object, tool or mechanism: it is analysed, designed in 3D and turned into a working prototype, with the drawings to take it further.</p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":110,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates/prestation.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-204","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https://volkengineering.fr/en/wp-json/wp/v2/pages/204","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https://volkengineering.fr/en/wp-json/wp/v2/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https://volkengineering.fr/en/wp-json/wp/v2/types/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https://volkengineering.fr/en/wp-json/wp/v2/users/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https://volkengineering.fr/en/wp-json/wp/v2/comments?post=204"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https://volkengineering.fr/en/wp-json/wp/v2/pages/204/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https://volkengineering.fr/en/wp-json/wp/v2/media?parent=204"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https://api.w.org/{rel}","templated":true}]}}