At Polyhistor, we’re experts in balancing innovative design and practical manufacturability. Whether you’re ramping up product development services or initiating high-volume production machining, our engineers can help you optimize your parts for manufacturability.
Reach out for an engineering help session, leverage our DFM (Design for Manufacturing) and DFA (Design for Assembly) expertise, and you’ll get superior parts every time.
Merging Innovation with Practical Efficiency
Our customers come to us with varying levels of engineering experience, from fresh graduates to seasoned engineers. Whenever appropriate, we review and offer feedback on designs that may not meet manufacturability standards.
Consider one current customer’s First Article order for a part designed with tolerances too tight for the requested manufacturing processes. Such instances necessitate revisiting and adjusting the design to align with what’s practically achievable. And while you can modify a design at any time, we’d prefer to help you make the right design decisions from the start.
Invite an RFQ Analysis
When we receive a new Request for Quote (RFQ), our initial assessment revolves around basic yet crucial questions:
- Is there a 3D model?
- Does the part appear manufacturable?
- Are the tolerances overly ambitious?
When you extend an open invitation for our DFM or DFA guidance, we’ll gladly offer an engineering help session to review potential design improvements that would add tremendous value to the final product.
Collaborate Early and Often
While we’re always willing to suggest DFM and DFA improvements, early collaboration is the best way to avoid design pitfalls. Ideally, we’d love to work with every customer product development services to production!
Our involvement from the early stages of design serves to streamline the manufacturing process and secure exceptional performance from your part or product. We encourage our customers to contemplate these essential questions during the design phase:
- What challenges might this design present during manufacturing or assembly?
- How could I modify this design for improved cost efficiency?
- Does this design support the product’s longevity requirements?
- Is future maintenance enabled or inhibited with this design?
Early engagement prevents foreseeable issues and fosters a beneficial relationship between our team and yours. With a healthy working relationship in place, we can meet—and often exceed—your expectations again and again.
Beyond the Blueprint: Value Engineering for Existing Parts
Improvement potential often exists even in parts with a long production history. Just because you’ve been making your part the same way for 10 years doesn’t mean we can’t help you modernize the design to shorten lead times, save money, and improve performance.
Our commitment to DFM and DFA best practices is standard here at Polyhistor, and it distinguishes us from shops that simply follow the provided 2D print without question. When we spot an opportunity to enhance efficiency and value, we consider it our responsibility to share what we know in pursuit of the best possible outcome for your project.
Polyhistor’s Top 3 DFM and DFA Tips
The issues we encounter most often can be resolved with these simple tips:
- Know your manufacturer. Beyond a general understanding of, for instance, precision machining vs. injection molding, you should know your manufacturing partner’s unique capabilities. Something as simple as a machine’s work envelope size can determine whether your design is manufacturable as planned.
- Know your materials. Sometimes, you can save time and money by using a comparable material without compromising the quality or functionality of your part. We understand that some material selections are non-negotiable, but we’ll gladly offer recommendations if you’re open to material swaps.
- Know your processes. Just because you successfully 3D printed your design does not mean you can machine the design just as easily—or at all! Many manufacturing processes exist for a reason, and they aren’t interchangeable. We can offer insight into these nuances if you’re uncertain.
Your Invitation to Collaboration
If you’re ready to elevate your part design with expert DFM and DFA support, we’re eager to hear from you. Don’t leave it to chance. Reach out early, request an engineering help session, and let’s pursue manufacturing excellence together.