Sampling Programme
See It Before You Commit
TOPWALLET offers three paths from idea to validated sample, each with a clear timeline and cost. Whether you want to evaluate an existing design, validate a new concept, or approve the final configuration before mass production, the process is fully documented and transparent. For existing designs, the stocked sample path is quickest — every current SKU is listed on the product catalogue, and any of them can be requested as a sample in 72 hours.
Every prototype ships with its dimensional report, surface-finish record, and functional test data, so the sample you hold in hand matches the specification we will build in bulk.
Prototyping Options
Stocked Sample
Timeline: 72 hours
Cost: Free (pay shipping)
Best for: Evaluate existing design
Tooling credit: N/A
Custom Prototype
Timeline: 7–15 days
Cost: $200–500
Best for: Validate new design
Tooling credit: Credited at 2,000 pcs
Pre-Production Sample
Timeline: 3–5 days after tooling
Cost: Included in tooling fee
Best for: Final approval before mass
Tooling credit: N/A
Should You Prototype or Go Straight to Production?
Many buyers skip prototyping to save time and discover problems only after hard tooling is paid for. The table below reflects the practical trade-offs we see across hundreds of wallet projects, so you can decide where the risk actually lives.
Geometry is new
New card slots, curved shells, or untested ejection mechanisms behave differently in machined metal than on screen. A $200–500 custom prototype is cheaper than a $800–3,000 tooling rework, and it usually arrives in 7–15 days either way.
Design is proven
If you are adapting an existing ODM structure or reordering a manufactured SKU, tooling already exists and your risk shifts from geometry to finish and assembly. A pre-production sample from the actual line confirms those before mass production starts.
Validate the market first
When the question is “will this sell” rather than “can this be built,” order stocked samples from the product catalogue. They ship in 72 hours and let your sales team test the product before any engineering spend.
In every case, prototype cost is not lost money: the fee is credited toward tooling at 2,000 pieces, so projects that advance quickly are effectively prototyping for free.
Prototyping Process
Every prototype moves through the same controlled workflow. Each step has a defined duration, a deliverable, and a sign-off checkpoint.
Design Confirmation
Duration: 1–2 days
Deliverable: Confirmed 2D drawing + 3D render
Sign-off: Customer approval on dimensions, material, and surface finish
Material Sourcing
Duration: 1–3 days
Deliverable: Material lot number + supplier certificate
Sign-off: Verified against target grade and thickness
CNC / Stamping
Duration: 2–5 days
Deliverable: Machined or stamped blank parts
Sign-off: Dimensional check on critical features
Surface Finish
Duration: 1–2 days
Deliverable: Anodized, sandblasted, or plated sample
Sign-off: Color match and texture confirmation
Assembly
Duration: 1 day
Deliverable: Fully assembled unit with all inserts and mechanisms
Sign-off: Fit and alignment check
Functional Test
Duration: 1 day
Deliverable: Test report with measured data
Sign-off: All results within spec limits
Ship
Duration: 3–7 days (express)
Deliverable: Tracked sample package with test report
Sign-off: Customer receipt confirmation
Functional Testing
Every prototype is subjected to the same test protocol used in final production. Results are recorded and shared in writing.
Card Capacity
Target: 1–12 cards. The exact target capacity is agreed during design confirmation. The test loads the specified card count and verifies smooth insertion, retention, and ejection without deformation.
Ejection Force
Measured with a calibrated force gauge. Target range: 1.5–3.5 N. The mechanism must eject cards smoothly without jamming, double-feed, or partial release across the full card stack height.
Cycle Life
10,000 open/close cycles on a motorized test rig. Zero functional failures allowed. After the test, the sample is re-measured for dimensional stability and ejection force drift.
RFID Shield
Test frequency: 13.56 MHz. Attenuation target: greater than 90%. Verified with a calibrated NFC reader at defined distances. The shield must block unauthorized scanning without interfering with intentional tap-to-pay use. The same 13.56 MHz verification runs at final QC on every production unit, so the prototype result carries through to bulk.
Drop Test
1.2 m drop onto concrete, impacting all six faces. The unit must remain intact, the mechanism must function normally, and cards must not eject unintentionally. Cosmetic-only damage is documented but does not constitute failure.
Remote Approval Workflow
Most of our prototyping clients approve samples from another continent. The workflow is designed so you never have to guess from photos alone:
Dimensional report first
Every prototype ships with a CMM-style dimensional report against your drawing, so geometry is verified numerically before you even unpack the box.
Video for function, photos for finish
We record a functional video (ejection, button feel, card slide) and macro photos of the surface finish under controlled lighting. Videos and photos are linked to the sample’s batch ID.
Physical sample by express
The unit is shipped 3–7 days by express courier, and you approve against the physical product under your own lighting rather than a calibrated monitor.
Revisions tracked per round
Each revision round is documented against the previous version’s test data, so the second round only re-tests what changed. This keeps rework measurable and the first 2 rounds free under the revision policy.
For clients with approved suppliers lists, we can also courier the sample to your third-party inspection agency (SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek) for an independent report before mass production.
Design Revision Policy
2
First rounds of design revision included in the prototype fee — no extra charge
$150
Per revision cycle from the 3rd round onward
Any
Revisions may cover structure, material grade, surface treatment, and critical dimensions
New
A complete redesign is treated as a new project and quoted separately
Tooling Amortisation
$800–3,000
Tooling fee range, depending on cavity count, complexity, and finish requirements
50%
At 2,000 pieces — half of the tooling fee is credited back to the customer
100%
At 5,000 pieces — the full tooling fee is credited back to the customer
Yours
The tooling belongs to the customer and is never used for other orders or shared with third parties
Manufacturing detail
Sampling numbers that de-risk your launch
Lead times, revision policy and cost treatment for every prototype path.
Frequently Asked Questions
The first 2 rounds of design revision are free. Each additional round is $150. A revision is defined as a change to structure, material, surface finish, or dimensions within the same product concept. A full redesign is treated as a new project.
A custom prototype is built from soft tooling or manual methods to validate a new design. It typically takes 7–15 days and costs $200–500. A pre-production sample is produced after hard tooling is cut, using the same setup as mass production. It confirms final dimensions, surface finish, and cycle performance before full-scale manufacturing begins.
Yes. The custom prototype is a standalone service. There is no obligation to proceed to tooling or mass production after sample evaluation. If you do proceed, the prototype fee is credited against tooling when the order reaches 2,000 pieces.
If the prototype fails to meet the agreed specification, we perform root-cause analysis at no charge and rework or rebuild the sample. If the gap is caused by a specification change on your side, it is handled as a design revision under the revision policy. Full test data is shared so the issue is documented and traceable.
See the production line before you commit.
Send us your product idea or a reference sample. A sales engineer will walk you through the relevant stages — tooling, sampling, production and QC — and come back with dates and costs.