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Ask HN: I want to design a new mixing bowl, where do I start?

1 points by MagnitudeSw ↗ HN
I'm a software engineer by trade and I have an idea for a new type of mixing bowl. This is a completely new domain to me and I'm not sure exactly where to get started. I'd like to do this with a very small budget.

What type of resources can help me build the prototype? For example is this something I can design via software? I'll need help getting the design correct, testing a prototype as well as figuring out how to manufacture it.

5 comments

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drcode
Probably the most efficient way would be to create a model with blender (http://blender.org) and then print a prototype via shapeways (http://shapeways.com).

Once the model is perfected, I think you can send it to some (China based?) companies who will send you a bid on mass producing a large number of them at a low cost.

sdoering
I was asking myself, if you are sure to have a target-market, a target customer, of your mixing-bowl. what would differentiate it? what would be the unique selling-point? why should I buy a new mixing bowl, if I am quite happy with the specs of the bowls in my kitchen at home?

I recommend answering these questions first. then finding experts, designers, small manufacturers and asking intelligent, interesting questions. maybe you could design it and start a joint-venture with a producer - who knows. you could even start it via kickstarter and see, if there is any interest in your idea, before producing a lot of these bowls and even before producing a prototype. you would know, if you can have real customers, that are willing to pay real money for it. and you would have money to start with.

replicatorblog
I'm an industrial designer and write a blog about manufacturing tech and DIY stuff. Feel free to shoot me a message and I can probably point you in the right direction.