The first blocker for a hardware idea is often not CAD. It is the lack of a clear brief: who the product is for, where it will be used, what it must survive, and what decision the first prototype should answer.
What to define before CAD
- User and problem.
- Use environment and constraints.
- Likely manufacturing method.
- Parts, interfaces, and safety concerns.
- The first decision the prototype should help make.
RHXY Plan exists for this stage. It turns an idea into requirements, part candidates, manufacturing assumptions, and review priorities before the team invests too much in geometry.