IDEATION SKETCHES to Final Illustration

Ratio works with new inventors and established product brands to innovate new product concepts. Through consumer insight research, conceptual sketching and client collaboration, we narrow the options to consider. This allows the team to move toward a proof of concept in the next phase as quickly as possible. Clients who may already be working on their own product development we can provide a starting point and strategically collaborate with you to bring the product into a design process. At the completion of this phase we will refine the product further based on manufacturing requirements.

CAD Engineering components & Assemblies

Ratio will use a well conceived product illustration to create the geometry for mechanical components. We will typically consider the most simplified part we can produce. This simplicity is based on known production capabilities in order to prototype or to manufacture the parts affordably.

At Ratio Product Lab, we understand mechanics, kinematics, thermodynamics, materials science, structural analysis and electrical devices. These core principles, along with tools like computer-aided design and product lifecycle management, are used to design and analyze a variety of products. This can include transport systems, watercraft, robotics, medical devices, heating and cooling equipment, food service equipment, tracking systems and more.

Our designers and engineers utilize the latest computer-aided design (CAD) technology from Autodesk’s Fusion360. A physical prototype may be created when the mechanical design process finalizes in Phase 2. If there are unforeseen issues or changes to be made to the first prototype, the product design can be resolved in CAD to ensure problems are eliminated before manufacturing. 3D printing allows us to iterate part design very quickly to get to the most efficient part we can produce and test.

3D PRINT PROTOTYPing

Ratio will bring a number of products to market every year and no matter the product category, one consistent in finalizing the design is prototyping. At this stage, we learn more about assembly, component fit and what is conceived in a solid CAD model. Does it perform as expected? What can we improve to make it better before production? We use a variety of technologies produce prototypes. We have 3D printers in our design studio and will machine or cast components as each project is unique. Nothing is faster than 3D printing to iterate a design and find out first hand how it performs.

Proof of concept Models

There are a number of components we cannot make in house and rely on a small network of vendors, fabricators, prototyping and injection molding professionals. We provide a number of cast parts to replicate silicone as a TPU. We work closely with new in mold electronics technologies for which a specific vendor can go from a proof of concept to production quickly regardless of the initial volume.

MaNufacturING transition & Guidance

Ratio has trusted resources for production manufacturing. We rely on these production alliances to lend expertise to deliver quality products to our clients. Ratio produces only 3D prints in house until such a time when we are able to hand off the project and manage resources for component and electronics production and testing certification.

We may provide estimates for production tooling of your product in low volumes to get you started and ready for market launch.