Accelerating product prototyping through hybrid methods: Coupling 3D printing and LEGO. (May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mathias, David; Snider, Chris; Hicks, Ben; Ranscombe, Charlie
• Is Part Of: Design studies. Volume 62(2019)
• Page Start: 68
• Page End: 99
• Publication Date: 2019-05
• Subjects: product development -- design process -- simulation -- technology -- prototyping; Design -- Periodicals; 745.405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.destud.2019.04.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0142-694X

Abstract

Abstract : This paper introduces Hybrid Prototyping as a way to couple different prototyping methods; combining their complementary affordances and mitigating their limitations. To characterise and investigate this approach, a simulation-based study was conducted into the coupling of low-cost 3D printing and LEGO®. Key benefits hypothesised are reduced fabrication time and increased reconfigurability. Six primitive 3D shapes are simulated using a continuum of hypothetical brick sizes. Results show a reduction in fabrication time of 45% and a reconfigurability of 57% at the optimum. A case study highlights the compounded improvements over 3D printing for an iterative prototyping process. These findings mean that increases in prototyping iterations can be made due to reduced time and material costs, accelerating the product development process. Highlights: Hybrid Prototyping reduces fabrication time and increases reconfigurability. Fabrication times of prototypes can be reduced by 45% at optimum brick size. Reconfigurability of prototypes can tend to 100%, 57% at optimum brick size. Optimum brick-to-object ratio is ( 4 − 8 ) × 10 − 4 : 1 .