F A S T

P R O T O
T Y P I N G
Methods of digital manufacturing
and their potential usage

I N D E X

Introduction

Aspects of fast prototyping

Context: where it comes from and where it's going

10

The potential of fast prototyping

15

Business opportunities using fast prototyping

17

Final thoughts

About MJV

I N T R O
D U C T I O N

Internet of things (IoT), wearables, programming,

do it yourself (DIY) and maker, are only some of several
technological terms that exist in the Digital Age we
currently live in. In one way or another, all of them are
connected to the concept of fast prototyping, meaning
the technique of materializing and testing ideas before
implementation.
Lets take a step back and remember the Design Thinking
stages: Immersion, Ideation and Prototyping. After the
initial research and investigation stage, the information
collected is analyzed and the insights recorded.
Subsequently, ideas for solutions for the identified
challenges are generated which then need to be tested
and validated. This is the moment to put in place some
of the methods and technologies that not only make it

INTRODUCTION

possible to test the hypothesis created, but also help collect

feedback and identify aspects for improvement.
A well known type of fast prototyping is 3D printing.
This method, one of the most modern, breaks the
limitations of the industrial process and allows us to
reproduce any shape imaginable that is designed on
a computer.
As well as 3D printing, in this e-book we will approach some
fast prototyping techniques and concepts, and how they
relate to Design Thinking projects.
How did they come about and what is their usage potential?
Why is it important to test solutions before implementing
them? What are the advantages of applying fast prototyping
techniques in the international and national contexts? How
can these methods impact human life, in a personal and
business context?
We hope this material can contribute as a fundamental tool
in your companys innovation strategy. Enjoy reading!

A
O
P
T

S P E C
F
FA
R O T
Y P I N

T S
S T
O
G

As mentioned before, several terms which are considered

merely technical are linked to the fast prototyping method.
The name fast is not used in vain: by using this tool it
is possible to speed up processes and thus, assist in the
solution of problems.

3D PRINTING IS NOT
T H E O N LY F O R M O F FA S T
PROTOTYPING; SOME
MACHINES DEVELOPED A
FEW DECADES AGO ALSO
FULFILL THIS FUNCTION
5

1
Laser cutting machines:
use laser beams to cut plates
of wood or plastic

2
1 e 2 Examples of digital manufacturing.
(Sources: www.madeiramaneira.com.br; www.design-milk.com)

Despite the new name digital manufacturing fast

prototyping has been in our lives for some time. It can be seen,

CNC Router (or milling machine):

performs the cut with a drill
that follows coordinates in three
axis (x,y and z) and, if there
is sufficient depth, can sculpt
shapes in plates of several
different materials.

for instance, in furniture construction which, in many cases,

are made entirely by machines. Another clear example is in
visual brand communication, in points of sales (POSs) and in
signs for business establishments in general (which are made
by machines that reproduce the desired cut and depth).

3 e 4 Ear printed via 3D printing

(Source: www.cellculturedish.com)

With the evolution of fast prototyping methods, came new

questions, such as what they can do and what they are

already doing for mankind. You must have already heard

about 3D printing being used to print human organs.
Despite looking like science fiction, this possibility is
already a reality.
Still limited to external organs (which dont have as
many complex systems) this technique allows us to,
for example, develop a human ear, since this body part
functions mainly with cartilage, skin and other simpler

organs. This is possible because when 3D printing is

5 Creation of a prosthetic using 3D

printing kept the toucan Tieta from
being put down. (Photo: internal archives)

aggregated to a silicon mold, stem cells are injected;

6 Hand prosthetic created via 3D printing.

(Photo: www.openbionics.com)

in this way, the silicone structure decomposes and

only the organ itself remains. In practice, this means a
democratization of the access to prosthetics which
was previously unthinkable.

3D machine.

8
7 Printing on glass
(Source: www.matter.media.mit.edu)
8 Robot printed in 3D
(Source: www.news.mit.edu)

The use of new materials is another example of an

evolution of fast prototyping that is already affecting our
lives. Printing in glass, for instance, appeared in 2015,
when it was disclosed by the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT). By aggregating the different types of 3D
printing to this type of material it is possible to extend its
potentials to an almost limitless amount.
3D printers have now also acquired the capacity to print
materials with different densities. MIT itself produced a
robot using one of these equipment, which generated an
extremely complex and mobile structure. The designers
only added the electronic components, while the rest was
printed in a few hours.

ASPECTS OF FAST PROTOTYPING

Another example of the evolution of fast prototyping

methods is the manufacturing from nano to macro. In
2015, an Austrian university printed a cathedral in a
size that can only be seen on an electronic microscope.
There are countless applications for this. In a medical
environment it can reduce surgical intervention, replacing
it with nano-robots which can perform surgery, care for
or monitor the patient. The method of projecting allows
us to develop new things that were unthinkable before.
These are some of the ways that fast prototyping and
digital manufacturing can be applied. They demonstrate
not only personal possibilities, but also corporate ones
for the use and application of this technology to solve
different challenges.
9 e 10 Manufacturing in nano
and macro, respectively.
(Sources: www.zdnet.com;
www.all3dp.com)

10

11Source:
www.fablaboutreach.wordpress.com

CONTEX
W H E R E
I T C O M
F R O M
W H E R E
I T ' S

T :
E S

G O I N G

The technical evidence seen in the previous chapter

allows us to speculate about the origins of fast
prototyping: how did it begin? How does it work
in practical terms and what are the impacts these
technologies are currently having in the world?
In this sense, the technological impact gives way to the
social impact, meaning how it interferes in society.

11

10

CONTEXT: WHERE IT COMES FROM,

WHERE ITS GOING

Shortly before the year 2000, the idea of personal digital

manufacturing began to develop: everyone could have access
to this kind of technology. Years before, the initiative of
personal computers, which brought the desktop technology
to the general population, already offered us a glimpse
into this idea. Access to technology was thus made easier,
promoting a kind of revolution and bringing developments
that until then were inconceivable.
In order to understand the origins of fast prototyping, it is
important to mention the digital fabrication laboratories, or
FAB LABS. These initiatives first occurred in the Center for
Bits and Atoms laboratories, from the already mentioned
MIT, which had the idea to popularize machines for people
without knowledge of technical programming or specific
handling of the equipment. Soon, experts realized the
importance of spreading this idea throughout the world and
allowing more people to use and test the potential use of
these technologies.
Through these initiatives, people were able to create
prototypes based on their own ideas and test them, as well
as learn a little about programming and manufacturing.
This means that from the beginning, prototyping is linked
not only to a hobby, but also to the freedom of developing
your own projects.

11

CONTEXT: WHERE IT COMES FROM,

WHERE ITS GOING

This began to take shape in the FAB LAB, but there is

already a network spreading worldwide. In Brazil, this
movement began around the year 2012 and has spread
to most of the country. In So Paulo there is a municipal
program that stimulates the practices of
these laboratories.

T H E FA B L A B I S A N O P E N
L A B O R AT O R Y E X P E R I E N C E
W H E R E P E O P L E C A N P L AY
W I T H T H I S T E C H N O L O G Y,
H AV E AC C E S S TO I T A N D
S TA R T P R O D U C I N G T H I N G S .
THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF
P E R S O N A L I Z AT I O N , T H E U LT R A
C O S T U M I Z AT I O N O F Y O U R
PROJECTS, WHERE PEOPLE
B E G I N TO H AV E AC C E S S TO
PRODUCTION GOODS.

Everything we have seen until now is linked to the

maker culture, or Do It Yourself (DIY), where people are
interested in learning to do things for themselves, like
developing products instead of buying them ready-

12

CONTEXT: WHERE IT COMES FROM,

WHERE ITS GOING

made from factories. These people no longer require

industrialised products, since digitally manufactured
products can be produced in a large scale, while still
being customized.
What is the real impact of this? Why is it important?
In the past, fast prototyping used to be done by hand,
in other words, it wasnt that fast. It was initially used to
accelerate the process of projecting specific products.
A significant representation of this is the design couple
Charles and Ray Eames, who developed several furniture
pieces and used prototyping to test whether or not the
design would work.

12

12 Testing and tangibility.

Charles and Ray Eames, 1948.
Source: www.catview.wordpress.
com/2014/01/27/designersprototipos/

13

13 This is one of the first pieces developed

by a 3D printer for direct consumption.

Any project methodology demands a test

of project tangibility, which diagnoses real
problems and verifies the assertiveness of
the solution designed from the perspective of
the users. Currently, however, methods that
were used exclusively by designers during
the development stages of their works are
now also used to produce final pieces.
Take for example this piece created by the
Frenchman Patrick Jouin in 2004.
13
Today, manufacturing methods are becoming
increasingly diverse, using the Internet
of Things (IoT) or wearable technologies
(wearables). The prediction is that in a short
period of time, it will be possible to produce
virtually anything. A simple piece of jewelry
can use these techniques for instance, by
being produced by a 3D printer and being
given lights that flicker when programmed by
apps in smartphones, tablets, computers or
other Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices.

FA S T P R O T O T Y P I N G
BREAKS DOWN THE
BARRIER BETWEEN
PROTOTYPING, THE
E X P E R I M E N TAT I O N
B A S E D O N T H AT
PROTOTYPE AND
I M P L E M E N TAT I O N
I N I T S E L F.

14

THE POT EN
TIAL OF
F A S T
PROTOTY PING

Something similar to what happened with the revolution of

personal computers is happening with digital manufacturing.
What could only be produced with huge machines, which
were solely used in industry, can now be created using
personal printers. Even if one does not have a 3D printer at
home, its possible to have it made on demand at a store
meaning that technology is more accessible today than
ever before.

15

THE POTENTIAL OF FAST PROTOTYPING

Therefore we can conclude that the access, to 3D printing

and the exchange of experiences regarding its use are
what will help develop this technology, whose potential is
limitless. We do not know what will result from a greater
access to manufactured goods, but one hopes it will lead
to a large leap for industries and companies.

14

15
14 e 15 This is one of the first
pieces developed by a 3D printer
for direct consumption.

16

BUSINES S
OPPORTU
NITIES
USING
F A S T
PROTOTY PING

How does fast prototyping actually impact the reality

of companies? How can one come into contact with this
technology? Initially a new market starts to form and
there are already platforms and networks dedicated to
this type of service. In Brazil, the practice is still in its
early days, but overseas it is a little more developed.

17

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
USING FAST PROTOTYPING

In a context where users can produce their own

consumer goods at home, without relying on industries
or patents, it is important for companies to identify
opportunities so they dont lose business. Some of
them are:

Acquiring a fast prototyping equipment and

making it available for communal use, like in
Open Design projects, where people collaborate
and produce together.
MODEL UPLOAD

SELECTION OF MATERIAL

PAYMENT ONLINE

PRODUCTION AND DELIVERY

Offering products on an online platform.

This way, the producer has the option of
manufacturing and selling, as well as outsourcing
the operation based on his own design and pricing,
having little work to do with regards to actually
constructing the object itself.

DEFINING LICENCE
AND PRICE

SHOWROOM

CLIENT SEES,
CHOOSES AND BUYS

PAYMENT

18

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
USING FAST PROTOTYPING

The consumer can find what he wants, add it to the cart

and pay as he would on any online shopping platform.
CLIENT SEES,
CHOOSES

CLIENT ADDS
TO THE CART

PAYMENT ONLINE

PRODUCTION
AND DELIVERY

The fact is that digital manufacturing technology allows

us to skip those intermediary and bureaucratic steps
which seriously delays the launch of a product to the
market. With these platforms, the launches begin to
happen at a significantly faster rate. In Brazil there are
already companies that work with digital manufacturing
16

17
16 e 17 Some areas have explored fast
prototyping in the commercialization
of products. In the art segment, it is
possible to acquire miniatures of part of
the structure of Strandbeest furniture.
A work developed in Holland by Theo
Jansen and that moves with the wind.

19

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
USING FAST PROTOTYPING

methods to create simple products and sell them, many

of them in the healthcare sector. Some examples of more
complex experiences using fast prototyping in the country
are orthodontics (creating dental prosthetics using 3D
printing) and the alternatives to ultrasounds for the
visually impaired (printing replicas of the fetus in 3D).
There is also a company that can create a piece of jewelry

18

applying algorithms based on the format of the fetus or

its heartbeats, obtained using ultrasounds.
At MJV, 3D printing is linked to the innovation of
interactive systems, using the Internet of Things
and Gamification. Aside from that, we approach the
subject and use of fast prototyping to help businesses

19

in several materials.

20
18, 19 e 20 Examples of fast
prototyping for orthodontics,
the visually impaired and
jewelry, respectively.

20

F I N A L
T H O U G

H T S

In this material we sought to approach some of

the general aspects of fast prototyping or digital
manufacturing in Brazil and around the world. We saw
that this technique has always been a part of our lives,
but only recently has evolved with more agile and efficient
equipment, like 3D printers.
In practice, this means companies can reduce costs and
optimize production processes for consumer goods,
or even help make technology more accessible. After all,
we understand that through the use of these resources,
new ways to produce and consume will be generated
which will directly impact businesses.

21

FINAL THOUGHTS

We also saw that little known and explored areas like the
Internet of Things are directly linked to the concept of fast
prototyping and the culture of testing and trying out solutions
before implementing them.
Lastly, we can summarize the topic in one question:
is your company ready to innovate using the different
resources offered by fast prototyping?

22

ABOUT MJV
CRAFTING BUSINESS TRANSFORMATIONS
THROUGH DESIGN THINKING AND DIGITAL STRATEGIES
Since 1997, MJV Technology & Innovation has been working with
some of the worlds largest companies on their business
challenges. Based out of offices in Europe, the United States and
Latin America, the consultancy now has a multidisciplinary team of
more than 300 members.
MJV is composed of three pillars structured in complete synergy:
BUSINESS INNOVATION Development and implementation
of innovative solutions to reduce costs, increase revenue and
generate new business models.
TECHNOLOGY CONSULTING Development and implementation of
costumized services on Business Intelligence (BI), IT and Internet
of Things (IoT).
DIGITAL STRATEGY Development and implementation of corporate
strategy and user experience in a way that the digital mindset
becomes intrinsic to the business model.
We believe innovation lies in the alliance of design principles and
technology. For us, empathy, creativity and user centered processes
lead to relevant and impacting solutions that generate real value
for business.
Distinct challenges require diverse approaches. Therefore, we
combine diverse expertise Design Thinking, Service Design,
Gamification, User Experience, Big Data, Lean Methodology, Internet of
Things, among others in order to transform complex challenges into
innovative solutions.

MAURCIO VIANNA
Global CEO
mvianna@mjvinnovation.com

YSMAR VIANNA
President
yvianna@mjvinnovation.com

INTRODUCTION

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24