I agree with Steve, but I’ll go one further.

If you can’t document the design, it doesn’t matter if you have a prototype – someone else will have to reverse engineer the prototype to build more.

Document everything clearly. if it’s a secret formula, then maybe leave that out, and memorize it, but document everything else. Dimensioned drawings, expanded views, etc.

This makes it easy to make more on your own, or to communicate parts of the design that others need to manufacture. If you can provide such drawings to an engineer (through EN or otherwise) then they’ll be able to evaluate the design from a manufacturing perspective at least.

It’s always in your best interest to document things clearly, and keep those documents safe. ;-)

Eddy

The engineer friend I mentioned has a LOT of experience with injection molded plastics. We both worked at a company that needed plastic parts molded to extremely precise specifications, for a VERY expensive piece of equipment. So if you have any questions those processes I’ll be happy to pass them along. Good luck!!

Thanks for your opinions. Obviously ever will be better present a prototype, especially when the presentation consist in a engineering concept.
In my case, only there are something about basic hydraulic and forces distribution, nothing of the other world. But make it is other tale. I agree with Greg Rotz, engineering time is expensive and they (Edison Nation) need evaluate the idea in the minimum time. I believe That if work the design in solidwork, could capture you attention and transmit the idea quickly.
Beadlerock, thanks for your help. answering your questions, in general, there aren’t electronic parts, and I will work the idea with plastic molded. Really I appreciate your help but I’ll try to only with SolidWork. Thanks

Eddy

A few questions without divulging too much about your idea:

1. When you say: “…specific design that involves concepts and calculus of engineering…” can you clarify that a little?

2. Are there electronic components involved?

3. Are mechanical components involved?

4. Will it involve any molded parts made of things such as plastic or silicone?

5. Will it require any machined parts that require metal cutting?

I ask because I have a good friend who’s a very smart engineer who knows a ton of equally smart engineers that all have prototyping experience. It may not be as difficult as you think especially to some of these guys. At the very least I’m pretty sure they could come up with a few suggestions that won’t cost you a dime. If this is something you’d like to explore, I’d be happy to sign an NDA for you. My buddy and anyone else he contacts would have no problem signing an NDA either because they’ve all done it many times before and understand the importance of confidentiality. You can send Roger Brown a friend request and he’ll be happy to provide you with an NDA. You can just tell him Beadle sent you and asked if he would be so kind. Whatever you end up doing, best of luck to you!!

Greg and Greg both make valid points. But it can be difficult to build a prototype yourself and expensive to pay someone else to do it. I’ve done the latter and am getting ready to tackle the former.

My opinion, do your best to develop the idea on paper. Make it clear and easy to understand and if you see a live search and haven’t figured out how to build a protoype or don’t have the funds to build it, submitt it anyway. The only way you can be sure of the result of the submission is if you don’t submit at all. You can always add more designes later or even photos and videos of the prototype later.

If the benefits are rock-solid and the implementation is clear without an engineering degree, then perhaps. Personally, I’m skeptical that if the implementation of it isn’t clear that submitting without having proven the concept that it will go very far. Engineering time is an expense and even more so for complex designs. They have to weigh cost/benefit, and if it doesn’t communicate clearly that it will work as specified… then?

Just my perspective, based on my personal random samplings of submissions. I’ve slowed down here, because I intend to proof out some of my less intuitively implemented designs before submitting. And as those are my favorite ideas, that’s where I’ve been focused.

Hi Eddy. Yes. Edison Nation will take the time to analyze the submission even if you do not have a prototype. One of Edison Nation’s very recent suucess stories was submitted without a prototype..Good Luck!