Design Engineering Dos and Don’ts

What’s the best material to use for this name plate? How do I make this logo stick to the housing? What finish options are available? Do you have material thicknesses to choose from? How long will this part last? These are just some of the many questions we get asked during the design process. We understand there can be numerous uncertainties at the onset of a program. LaFrance is here to guide you in finding the solution that not only works best for your product design, but also helps you tell your brand story in the marketplace. Continue reading to uncover some important dos and don’ts of design engineering. 

1. 1)  DO start with mechanical design requirements. Understand where and how the part needs to be affixed to the finished product. Will there be a pocket to accept the separate piece? Does the designer want the part to sit flush, proud, or sub-surface? Knowing all this upfront will help guide the designer to create something that’s producible which won’t require a ton of design tweaks.   
    

1. 2)  DON’T assume all housing materials are designed equally. Just because a particular adhesive worked for your last design doesn’t mean it will work for the next. A change in the base material of the name plate, trim piece, or functional component can have a major impact on its ability to be assembled to the housing. Likewise, the housing can also affect adherence of a secondary piece. The material, presence of a texture, and any finishing that’s been applied to the housing can completely change the game when making sure your branding stands the test of time. 
    

1. 3)  DO move onto aesthetics once the mechanics have been decided. By then you’ll have a solid foundation to guide you, like material thickness allowance, adherence to the housing, and overall final appearance after assembly. Now it’s a matter of dialing in the details like base material, finishing requirements, and textures or patterns. This is always the fun part during the process when designers start to see their vision come to life.  
    

1. 4)  DON’T take previous testing results as gospel for new designs. Durability is paramount to the success of any product in the marketplace. If your on-product branding is crooked, worn, scratched, or dented, be prepared for your brand perception to take a considerable hit. Understanding the product’s environment and what type of durability testing is needed can make (or break) a brand. Even if the design for your new part is almost identical to a part already in production, it doesn’t mean it will perform the same way. A simple change in the part’s geometry can alter durability and therefore needs to be tested independently to ensure it can survive the expected product lifecycle.
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3. There are quite a few things to consider during the design engineering process, but these 4 tips can help you get off to a great start. To learn more about how LaFrance uses the creative process to bring your design from concept through to production, please complete our form below. We look forward to designing with and manufacturing for you! 
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