VERAN / PROTOTYPING & ENGINEERING

Prototyping &
Engineering
in Pretoria.

Develop it. Make it. Learn from it.

We help individuals and businesses develop ideas into practical prototypes. Our approach brings together CAD design, 3D printing and a review of the requirements to explore how a part fits, assembles and works.

Start with an idea, an existing design or a component you want to improve. We will discuss what the prototype needs to demonstrate and agree the work needed to get there.

Request a quote ↗

WHAT WE CAN DEVELOP

Make the next decision with a prototype.

Concept models

Explore a product’s shape, size and layout with a physical model. Useful for reviewing an idea, communicating a concept and identifying changes before further development.

Fit and assembly

Review mounting points, clearances, access and how components come together. Examples include housings, covers, brackets and adapters for an existing assembly.

Functional development

Develop a part around a defined task and discuss a suitable way to assess it. Examples we can explore include custom mechanisms, positioning aids and fixtures, with the scope confirmed for each project.

HOW WE DEVELOP YOUR PROTOTYPE

A clear purpose for each iteration.

01 | Define the objective

Agree what you want to learn: appearance, fit, assembly or a specific function. Identify the important dimensions, constraints and observations needed to judge the result.

02 | Design and make

Develop or adapt the CAD model and choose a suitable prototype process and material. The quote identifies the modelling, printing and other agreed work included in this stage.

03 | Review and refine

Review the prototype against the agreed objective and your feedback. Use the findings to decide which changes to make next. Additional versions, parts and testing are quoted where needed.

CAPABILITIES & CONSIDERATIONS

Choose the prototype around the question.

Processes and materials

Our eight FDM printers and resin printer provide options for different sizes, shapes and detail requirements. The industrial printer supports specialised and high-temperature filament projects.

Material, dimensions and finishing are confirmed for the proposed prototype. A model for reviewing appearance may need a different approach from one intended for repeated handling.

Practical requirements

We can discuss dimensions, interfaces, wall thickness, clearances and assembly requirements as part of the design work. Provide the components the prototype needs to fit, or their drawings and measurements.

Tell us about any expected loads, movement, temperature exposure or operating conditions. These help define the appropriate design and review scope.

Checks and testing

Each prototype has an agreed purpose. Confirm which measurements, fit checks or functional trials are included, who will carry them out and how findings will be reviewed.

Formal calculations, simulation, certification and production validation are separate requirements whose availability and scope must be confirmed. They are not automatically included with a printed prototype.

A successful fit or appearance review does not establish every performance requirement. Prototype materials and printing methods can behave differently from the eventual production process. We will define what each version is intended to demonstrate.

WHAT YOU RECEIVE

A prototype.
A clearer next step.

Your quote identifies the deliverables and development stages. Depending on the agreed scope, these can include:

Physical prototype parts in the agreed material and quantity.
CAD modelling and digital files in the agreed formats.
Agreed measurements, review notes or a record of prototype observations.
Defined design revisions and recommendations for the next stage.

The number of versions, included reviews and any additional work are agreed before that stage begins. Producing a prototype does not automatically include a production run.

WHAT WE NEED

Tell us what you need to learn.

Your idea, existing design or the problem you want to solve.
What the prototype should demonstrate and how you will judge it.
Sketches, CAD files, photographs or a reference component.
Key dimensions, mating parts and available assembly space.
Expected use, operating conditions and material preferences.
Required quantity, completion date and development budget, if known.

If the requirements are still developing, tell us what is known. We can discuss a first stage that answers the most useful questions.

FROM OUR WORKSHOP

From the first version to the next.

Light Bracket for a Motorcycle

The requirement
Develop a motorcycle light bracket, taking it from an initial design to a finished part ready to mount.

Our approach
We created the CAD design and produced a 3D-printed prototype before moving to sheet metal fabrication. The final bracket was powder coated to complete the finish.

What we learned
The printed prototype provided a physical reference for reviewing the design before producing the metal bracket.

The result
A finished, powder-coated sheet metal bracket ready to mount—bringing CAD design, 3D printing and fabrication together in one project.

Project details
Motorcycle light bracket · CAD design · 3D-printed prototype · Sheet metal fabrication · Powder coating

COMMON QUESTIONS

Before you get started.

Do I need a finished CAD model?

No. Send your idea, sketches, reference photographs or existing component. We can discuss the CAD work required and include it in the proposed development scope.

What is the difference between a prototype and a finished part?

A prototype is made to explore defined questions, such as shape, fit, assembly or function. A finished part must meet its agreed requirements for use. Tell us which outcome you need so the design, material and checks can be scoped accordingly.

How many prototype versions will I need?

This depends on the design and what you need to learn. We can start with an agreed first version, review the findings and quote further iterations where useful. The number of included versions is stated in the scope.

Does the service include engineering testing or certification?

Only the checks and testing explicitly agreed in the quote are included. Tell us if you require calculations, simulation, certification or specialist testing so we can confirm what can be offered and identify any additional requirements.

How much will development cost, and how long will it take?

The quote depends on the design work, prototype size, process, material, quantity and review stages. Send your requirements and preferred deadline. We can propose a first stage and an estimated completion time.

YOUR NEXT STEP

Let’s develop your next version.

Tell us what you are developing and what the prototype needs to show. We will help define a practical starting point.