Appearance mock-up
An object that reproduces the shape, proportions, colour and finishes of the future product, without necessarily working. It is used for sales presentations, trade shows and perception tests.
Expertise
Prototyping subcontracting
Working prototype, mock-up or pre-series: describe your idea and compare quotes from workshops able to make it real quickly.
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A prototype answers a question before you invest: does the shape work? Does the mechanism function? Can it be assembled? Do users or a client like the product? Depending on the question, the prototype is not the same in nature or in cost. Rapid prototyping means making a real object in a few days or weeks, using the processes best suited to this stage, often different from those of future production.
The trade is cross-disciplinary. A prototype maker or prototyping workshop masters several technologies: 3D printing, machining, sheet metal cutting and bending, vacuum casting, silicone moulding, electronic board assembly, surface finishing. They choose the combination that meets the need at the lowest cost, rather than a single process. This is valuable for a start-up that wants to validate a product, a design office testing a technical solution, or an SME preparing a launch.
Being clear about what the prototype must prove is the key to a good request. This page covers the types of prototype, the processes, price factors, mistakes to avoid, and how to prepare the move to series production, so that your first units also serve the rest of the project.
Common services
Working prototype
It reproduces the functions and loads of the real product to validate the mechanism, ergonomics or performance. The materials are close to, or even the same as, those of the series.
3D-printed prototypes
The fastest way to get a first plastic or metal part. It makes successive iterations easy, since a design change costs only machine time.
Machined prototypes
In the final material (aluminium, steel, engineering plastic), CNC machining gives precise parts for mechanical, thermal or sealing tests.
Sheet metal prototypes
Laser cutting and bending quickly produce covers, chassis and brackets, with shapes close to series production.
Vacuum casting and small runs
From a master model, silicone moulds make it possible to cast ten or twenty copies in a resin that imitates the final material, for market tests or trade shows.
Electronic prototypes
Development boards and printed circuit board prototypes, assembled and tested, to validate a function before industrialisation.
Materials worked
3D-printed PLA, PETG, ABS and nylonPhotopolymer resins for appearance partsMachined aluminium and steelEngineering plastics (POM, PA, PC, PMMA)Polyurethane resins for vacuum castingSilicone for moulds and flexible partsSteel, stainless steel and aluminium sheetFoams, wood and boards for volumetric mock-ups
Common applications
- Concept validation by a start-up before fundraising
- Functional tests of a mechanism, an enclosure or an interface
- Sales presentations and trade shows
- Assembly trials and checking of assembly clearances
- Test parts for approval or certification
- Pre-series before buying a mould or tooling
- Product mock-ups for market research
- Development of medical devices, sensors and connected objects
What affects the price
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1
Purpose of the prototype
An appearance mock-up, a mechanical prototype and a certifiable prototype do not require the same materials, tolerances or finishes, and therefore not the same price.
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2
Process and material
Plastic 3D printing remains cheaper than machining titanium or silicone moulding, but the cheapest process is not always the most representative of the future series.
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3
Complexity and number of parts
The number of components, assemblies and finishes determines the time. A prototype made of ten different parts weighs more than a single-piece one.
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4
Finish and appearance
Sanding, painting, texturing, marking or metallisation add labour. A raw test part costs far less than a demonstration part.
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5
Number of iterations and batches
A prototype is rarely a one-off. Planning several cycles of manufacture and modification, or ordering several units at once, smooths out costs.
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6
Lead time required
A prototype needed within a few days takes priority in the workshop, at a surcharge. A more flexible schedule improves the price and the choice of processes.
Tips for a successful request
Post a request- State in one sentence what the prototype must demonstrate: shape, function, performance, perception or certification.
- Provide the 3D model (STEP), any drawings and the references of the components to be integrated, together with an idea of the series material.
- Distinguish critical dimensions from the others: a prototype does not need the tight series tolerance everywhere.
- State the number of units, their use (destructive test or presentation) and the level of finish expected.
- Specify the iteration schedule: how many versions, at what pace, with what validation criteria.
- Flag your confidentiality needs for the intellectual property of your product before exchanging files.
Mock-up, working prototype, pre-series: three objectives, three approaches
Talking about a “prototype” without specifying its purpose leads to quotes that are hard to compare. Three situations come up most often.
- The appearance mock-up (looks-like) is about looks: shapes, colours, surface finish. Resin or sintered 3D printing followed by sanding and painting, or machining a resin block, is enough. Functions are not needed.
- The working prototype (works-like) is about behaviour: mechanism, sealing, strength, thermal performance. It requires the right materials and tolerances on functional dimensions. CNC machining, sheet metal work and engineering-grade 3D printing are used.
- The pre-series prepares industrialisation: a few dozen units close to the final product, used for tests in real conditions, certifications, trials with pilot customers or validation of the manufacturing process.
Moving from one to another is not automatic. A printed appearance prototype does not behave like the final moulded part; a prototype machined from a block does not always reflect the constraints of an injection mould, such as draft angles and shrinkage. The right approach is to list the risks to be eliminated and, for each, choose the cheapest process that can verify them.
Choosing processes: combining 3D printing, machining, sheet metal and casting
There is no universal prototyping process, and the right method often combines several. The table below summarises common choices; the orders of magnitude depend on each project.
| Need | Common process | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Complex shape, one to a few parts | 3D printing | No tooling, fast iteration |
| Precise mechanical part in the final material | CNC machining | Tolerances and properties close to the series |
| Cover, chassis, bracket | Sheet metal work | Fast cutting and bending |
| Ten to twenty plastic replicas | Vacuum casting | Series-like appearance without a metal mould |
| A few hundred plastic parts | Aluminium mould (plastics processing) | Real material, lighter tooling |
You can entrust everything to a single prototype maker, who coordinates the processes and saves you from dealing with several contacts, or split the parts between several specialist workshops to optimise cost and lead time. Also think about the electronic components and wiring needed to bring the prototype to life; the electronics page describes these services. The guide to 3D printing or CNC machining helps you decide between the two most common routes.
Preparing for series production from the prototype stage
A brilliant prototype that cannot be produced at a reasonable cost is an expensive dead end. From the first iterations, ask yourself about the final manufacturing process, and build in its constraints: draft angles and even wall thicknesses for injection moulding, standard bend radii for sheet metal, realistic tolerances for machining. An experienced prototyping workshop knows how to spot these points before they become costly.
Document each version: dated 3D model, drawings, bill of materials, settings, test results, testers’ comments. This traceability avoids repeating the same mistakes and serves as the basis of the industrialisation file. Our guide from prototype to series details the steps, and preparing your exchanges properly includes a confidentiality agreement if your product is innovative.
For a prototype, a Meaflow request benefits from saying what it must prove and how many iterations you plan. Workshops reply with sometimes very different processes: the relevance of the approach, as much as the price, will make the difference. Post your project with your files and your schedule.
Suppliers: prototyping
Guides to go further
From prototype to series production: the stages of industrialisation
Mock-up, functional prototype, pre-series, tooling, qualification: how to structure the move from a single unit to repeatable production, and choose the right processes for your volumes.
3D printing or CNC machining: which should you choose for your parts?
3D printing or CNC machining? Seven selection criteria, FDM, SLA, SLS, MJF and metal technologies, a comparison table and cases where combining both processes makes sense.
Protecting your drawings in subcontracting: NDAs, ownership and good practice
Typical content of a confidentiality agreement, trade secrets, ownership of drawings and tooling, scope of the 1975 French law and sharing habits: how to entrust your drawings with confidence.
Related expertise
3D printing
FDM, SLA, SLS, metal, prototypes and small runs
CNC machining
Milling, turning, 3- to 5-axis machining centres
Design office & CAD
Design, drawings, 3D modelling, calculations
Plastics & moulding
Plastic injection, thermoforming, moulds, silicone
Frequently asked questions
A question not answered here? Visit the help centre or write to us.
How much does an industrial prototype cost?
The cost depends on the purpose, the process, the materials, the complexity, the finish and the number of iterations. A 3D-printed mock-up has little in common with a metal machined prototype or a pre-series. Describe precisely what the prototype must demonstrate: workshops will then propose the cheapest process to achieve it.
What is the lead time to make a prototype?
A 3D-printed part can be delivered in a few days; an assembly combining machining, sheet metal, finishing and electronics more often takes several weeks. The number of iterations planned and the workshop’s workload count as much as the process. State the schedule of the tests the prototype must feed, so that workshops can calibrate their quote.
Can I have just one prototype made?
Yes, it is even the most common case: one-off manufacture is part of the prototyping workshop’s trade. The unit price is higher than in series, but it avoids investing in tooling. If several iterations are planned, say so: the workshop may offer suitable terms.
What should I send to a workshop to get a prototype quoted?
A 3D model in STEP, drawings if you have them, the list of components to be integrated, the material you want or are aiming for in series, the number of units and the level of finish. Add the purpose of the prototype in a few lines. If you only have a sketch, say so: some workshops also offer modelling.
How do I protect my idea before contacting workshops?
A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) signed before sending files is the usual precaution. Also limit the information you pass on to what is needed for the quote, and keep a dated record of your documents. For a major innovation, an intellectual property adviser can complement these measures.
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