Prototypes or style concepts developed in the initial phase of design to represent the target characteristics of the end product are passed on to the product department, the starting point in the development cycle of the new model, a series of operations leading to serial production.

 

The characteristics of the prototype (or style concept) are reviewed in relation to the producibility in series of the new model before proceeding with the actual design of the product and machinery, in which a kit of drawings, machinery, operating instructions and samples is put together to send to the various plants for pilot production.

 

The latest 3D modeling software is used in this stage of design to obtain the mathematical data and drawings of the entire product and every component in it and of all the primary equipment needed to generate them from raw materials. Three manufacturing technologies are involved: metal, acetate slabs and plastic (injection molding); each of these has an engineering platform where specialist designers define machining sequences.

 

At this point in the cycle the tooling shop puts together equipment needed to make the components comprising the new model. The first specimens thus obtained are assembled and have to undergo a series of tests required by internal quality control procedures. In the meantime, everything else needed for the actual launch of the pre-series (basic parts lists, operating cycles, assembly instructions and control and support equipment) is made ready.

 

The next steps are sample production and quality certification to obtain sales samples of the new models. These samples are subjected to a whole sequence of tests to ascertain the validity of what has been engineered so far.