Manufacturing Focus | Engineering & Production Guidelines |
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Material Selection & Manufacturability | Prioritize materials offering dimensional stability and surface finish consistency. For injection molding, use PC-ABS or PMMA blends for optical clarity and impact resistance. For housing or frames, choose ADC12 die-cast aluminum or SUS304 with brushed or PVD coatings for premium-grade assemblies. |
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Tooling Architecture & Optimization | Adopt multi-cavity tooling with uniform thermal balance. Apply replaceable inserts for model variation flexibility. Use mold flow analysis to define gate position and reduce weld lines and air traps, ensuring consistent fill and minimizing cosmetic defects. |
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Surface Texture & Aesthetic Control | Define VDI 3400 or SPI finish standards for each external surface. Integrate laser or chemical etching in mold cavities for high-resolution patterns. Ensure color fidelity through masterbatch calibration and controlled cooling rates to avoid sink or swirl marks. |
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Parting Line Engineering | Optimize parting line placement to fall within shadowed or non-touch surfaces. Add parting line venting for thin-walled designs (<1.2 mm) and specify surface polishing at visible junctions to meet consumer-grade cosmetic criteria (A2/A3 level). |
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Injection Molding Throughput Strategy | Use hot runner manifolds to minimize waste and maintain melt temperature. Design ejection system with multiple pins or stripper plates to avoid part deformation. Cycle time targets: <30 seconds for thermoplastics, <50 seconds for multi-shot molding. |
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Secondary Operations & CNC Interfaces | Integrate datum features and pre-drilled locators for post-mold CNC milling or engraving. For product personalization, reserve laser-marking windows and maintain surface Ra <1.2 µm. Avoid secondary op intersections with parting lines to reduce alignment error. |
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Packaging, Transport & Storage Design | Incorporate interlocking geometries for stackable packaging. Validate packaging with ISTA 3A or ASTM D4169 to ensure drop resistance ≥1.2 meters. Apply corrosion-resistant coatings or vacuum-sealed packing for products exposed to humidity >60% during transit. |
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Yield Optimization & Inline QA Strategy | Design for Cpk >1.67 on critical dimensions. Integrate optical inspection for gate marks and sink control. Apply poka-yoke in jigs and fixtures to reduce manual assembly defects; plan for real-time SPC monitoring in high-throughput lines. |
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Cost Engineering & Modular Design | Implement modularity across SKUs by reusing chassis, fasteners, or decorative elements. Optimize DFM for part count reduction. Prioritize joining methods like snap-fits or ultrasonic welding over threaded inserts to lower assembly cycle times. |
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Compliance Documentation & Traceability | Embed lot coding or QR-based traceability on all critical subcomponents. Design for CE, FCC, RoHS, UL 94 HB/V0 compliance based on market. Maintain full material certifications, PPAP Level 3 documentation, and archive mold revision logs for minimum 5 years. |