Selection of materials and components

Functional Need

Materials must perform the job required. This depends on what is being tested in the prototype — strength, flexibility, insulation, conductivity, etc.

• Use foam board or cardboard for quick modelling of shape or scale
• Use MDF, acrylic or 3D printed parts to test durability or moving parts
• Use real components (e.g. switches, LEDs, sensors) when prototyping electronic systems

Cost

Prototype materials should be affordable, especially when testing multiple versions.

• Cheaper alternatives like card or softwood may be used instead of final materials
• Digital modelling (CAD) can reduce material waste and cost

Availability

Materials and components should be easy to source and accessible within your school or workshop setting.

• Choose materials that are stocked in the workshop or available from suppliers
• Use modular components (e.g. breadboards for electronics) to speed up testing

Good vs Poor Practice in Material Selection

Good Practice	Poor Practice
Choosing low-cost materials that match test goals Prototyping with materials similar to final function Using what’s available to save time and budget	Using final materials too early and wasting resources Ignoring function (e.g. using paper to test weight-bearing) Delaying development due to unavailable components

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