Rapid Realisation In Action

Need three working prototypes in three weeks?

A company producing electronic systems for racing cars had a completed electronic design for a new product on paper, but had no casing design, and no spare engineering resource to bring the product to prototype. They needed three working prototypes in three weeks. A tall order? Atrial rose to the challenge.

The casing had to be designed to fit an existing mounting system, which, together with the bulky connector system required, meant that the space for the printed circuit board (PCB) within the casing was very tight. Using Atrial's expertise in Design for Manufacture, a solution was derived that was both cost effective and easy to produce.

The timescale required for the prototypes meant that the casing could not be produced in the traditional method normally used by the client, which was machining from solid aluminium. A method of rapid prototyping was identified by Atrial that would allow the prototypes to be produced in the required timescales, and yet be fully functional for the client to test and install on a car.

The client had never used this method before, and was so pleased with the result that it is now considering using this method for other rapid turnaround requirements.

Although the remit was for initial prototypes, the client wanted the eventual design to be able to go straight to production, if so wished. Atrial kept this is mind throughout the project, and produced a design that needed no further work to take it into production. Atrial also provided all documentation and support information to allow the units to go straight into production.

The prototypes were assembled and delivered to the client two days before the three week deadline. All three units functioned correctly when first powered up by the client. They are currently undergoing extended field testing at the client's customer.

Atrial has since been asked to quote on several other projects from the same client.