Connecting the dots between design and manufacturing is a core capability for us at Polyhistor International. When you leverage our design for manufacturing services, we not only offer suggestions on what could drive up cost and lead time, but we also clearly explain the reasoning in the language of engineers.
That’s because our owner and founder, Peter Schönning, started as a design engineer before moving into the machine-shop side. His experience in both worlds has shaped our product development services as well as our precision machining.
When you successfully incorporate manufacturing into your design, you’ll ultimately get a smoother launch. Learn four principles we share with teams that want fewer surprises from prototype through production.
Start Early: Incorporate Manufacturability Into Your Design
Many DFM improvements can seem relatively minor, like adding an internal corner radius or revisiting a tight tolerance. And early in the design phase, those decisions really can be quick and low-risk. But once you’ve entered production, even minor revisions can lead to schedule disruption, require more extensive approvals, and force programming or inspection changes for the manufacturer.
Iterate Smarter, Not Harder
Iteration is essential in product development; after all, prototypes exist to test your assumptions. But iteration can become expensive if it isn’t managed intentionally. Scope creep, for instance, can drive up costs by adding work outside of original requirements. Too many stakeholders is another common challenge; conflicting priorities can extend the revision process.
Define the purpose of your iterations, and treat each one as a focused process. Your goal should always be to efficiently move the design forward through each iteration.
Understand How the Part Will Actually Be Made
Peter often remembers an early lesson from his first engineering role: he quickly saw that there is a big difference between a design that works in theory and one that can be manufactured efficiently in reality. In that role, he challenged himself to design parts for multiple processes, everything from plastic injection molding services to casting to sheet metal fabrication. That way, he could more deeply understand the strengths and constraints of each method.
Back then, he had to consult textbooks; today, it’s easier to build that intuition. Online resources like YouTube help you see the process in action and visualize everything from tooling access to workholding. By understanding the “why” behind a DFM recommendation, guidelines become habits rather than arbitrary rules.
Learn Some of the Important DFM Principles
Even strong engineering teams can’t be expected to know every potential inefficiency across every machine type. But understanding a variety of critical, basic DFM principles can not only reduce your costs; it can help cut down on the back-and-forth that often slows the path to production.
We have published several resources drawing on our design for manufacturing services that can serve as starting points:
- 24 Ways to Reduce Costs for Assemblies
- Design for Manufacturing Tips for Precision Machining: 4 Features to Avoid
- 7 Design Tips for Injection Molding
- Avoid these 6 Common Product Design Mistakes
- 4 Simple Design Tips to Decrease the Cost of Your Part
Let’s Collaborate (Early!)
You can’t be an expert in every DFM principle, but you don’t need to be. Instead, you can partner with the team at Polyhistor, who live in both design and manufacturing every day. With our design for manufacturing services, we can improve the machinability of your design and help you achieve cost-effective production.
If you’re working on a new part, request a quote today from our Jacksonville machine shop!