Prototypes are an important instrument for the presentation of results in product development. Prototypes are used to visualize, communicate and test development results or intermediate results. This can range from initial studies in the form of sketches and drawings for visualization to functional prototypes.

Research at the Chair of Product Development investigates and supports the process chain in product development from the initial idea to prototypes.

The Chair of Product Development has various tools at its disposal that are necessary for the process chain from idea to prototype. Workspaces for creative workshops, workstations for CAD modeling, software for CAD, FEM and other modeling methods are available. This development environment includes a makerspace for student use as well as a prototyping lab which includes various 3D printers (FDM, SLA, SLS, c-FDM) and a laser cutter. For the inspection and measurement of prototypes but also for reverse engineering, the chair is equipped with contact and non-contact measurement technology.

The research in this area is divided into the following main topics:

• Selection of prototyping methods
• Evaluation of the benefit of prototyping methods
• Creation and testing of prototypes