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Mechanical Engineering vocabulary · Testing and Quality

Prototype

Meaning in mechanical engineering, with examples

/ˈproʊtətaɪp/nounCore term

In mechanical engineering, prototype means: An early working version of a product, built to test the design, check fit and function, and find problems before production starts.

In Turkish: prototip, ilk örnek, deneme modeli

How it is used

Used in product development. Teams build, test and improve prototypes; a prototype can be 3D printed, machined or made by hand. Engineers talk about the prototype phase and prototype parts before moving to pre-series and mass production.

Example sentences

  1. The first prototype passed the drop test but failed the heat test.

  2. We 3D printed a quick prototype to check how the handle feels in the hand.

Common collocations

  • build a prototype
  • first prototype
  • working prototype
  • rapid prototyping
  • prototype testing
  • additive manufacturingMaking parts by building them up layer by layer from a digital model, in plastic or metal. It is the industrial term for 3D printing.
  • CADShort for computer-aided design: software used to create 3D models and 2D drawings of parts and assemblies, such as SolidWorks, CATIA, Siemens NX or AutoCAD.
  • test rigA setup of equipment, sensors and fixtures built to test a part, machine or system under controlled conditions, often in long durability or performance tests.
  • specificationA document or list that states exactly what a product, material or process must do or meet, such as dimensions, performance, materials and standards.
  • inspectionChecking a part, product or machine against a drawing, specification or standard by looking at it, measuring it or testing it.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Testing and Quality

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