Single Supplier Eases Move from Prototype To Production

Redfish Instruments (Santa Cruz, CA) develops electronic devices that function in tandem with the Apple iPhone, iPad and iPod-touch. Redfish Instruments’ iDVM device is the world’s first iPhone, iPad and iPod-touch enabled digital multimeter that wirelessly transmits voltage, current and resistance measurements for enhanced visualization, data sharing and data logging. Control of the iDVM is handled entirely from within a free, downloadable application that resides on the mobile device.

The iDVM digital multimeter from Redfish makes measuring and data logging resistance, voltage, and/or current easy, allowing the user to capture, store and share data wirelessly. Redfish Instruments is the only company offering a multimeter iPhone application, which can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store.

Redfish had created an initial design for the iDVM device, but needed to find a vendor who could provide them with functional prototypes for review and testing. “We needed to begin with some prototype versions to help us confirm the design, before ultimately moving on to sourcing the production parts,” explains Patrick O’Hara with Redfish.

O’Hara began by using the Quickparts online instant quoting engine, QuickQuote®, to quote and buy the order for the initial ABS-like, black SLA prototypes for the top and bottom of the design case.

After performing fit and form testing, Redfish— along with assistance from Quickparts engineers—implemented design revisions and moved on to a second order of pre-production cast urethane parts that allowed them to further test design, color functionality and finish texture.

When the time came to produce the final production parts for the case, Redfish again turned to Quickparts for the low-volume injection molded parts they needed.

Today, production quantity components for the iDVM are molded out of UL94V0 black ABS off of aluminum injection molds with Quickparts. “From the personal follow-up on our prototype projects, all the way to the design for manufacturability analysis we received with our molded parts, Quickparts continued to be the easy and logical choice to handle each phase of our production,” notes O’Hara.

Redfish was able to directly benefit from the full prototype to production capabilities at Quickparts—by using a single vendor they were able to move the iDVM device all the way from concept through to production.

“The speed and service we received allowed us to easily navigate through the entire developmental process of the plastic components,” states O’Hara. “We could not have done it without the teamwork we experienced with Quickparts.”

For more information:
Redfish Instruments / redfishinstruments.com