Design Tips

Table of Contents

What Are Design Tips?

When creating a design, many practices must be used to ensure that the end product is able to function as intended, but it is also important to create a product that is simple, yet effective and refined. There are many design tips and processes that can be followed to easily accomplish this task.

1. Ensure that Proper Safety is Maintained

Whenever designing always make sure proper safety precautions are taken into account. Make sure you put the safety of yourself and everyone else first. An unsafe design will cause many more problems later down the line and will never be considered as a viable option.

2. Identify the Constraints and Criteria

Write down the constraints and criteria of your project and have them present at all times during the design process. This will help your design stay consistent with your goals and a specified guideline and it will help keep you on the right track.

3. Pay Attention to Cost

Don't forget about the budget of your project. It will save you some trouble later on if you keep note of costs in the early stages of design [1].

4. Keep the Manufacturing Process in Mind

You can add any feature you want in a CAD model but that doesn't mean it is always possible or easy to be fabricated [1]. Keep in mind that the part must later be manufactured and try to simplify that process in your design. 

5. Units and Sizes

For any design always try to use convenient units, such as 150 mm or 3.5", etc. Many parts (fasteners, shafts, pipes, bearings, rails, channels) available to purchase come in standard sizes. Most components and parts you will find are available in imperial units.

6. Create your CAD Models Properly and Logically

Use as few features as possible when building your model. For example, a shaft can be modelled by creating a circle sketch and extruding it, or by creating a square sketch, extruding it, and applying four fillets. It will be helpful to any colleagues, who may later redesign your part, if you keep it as simple as possible [1]. To ensure clear communication with colleagues, especially with complicated models, take the time to rename the features of your part as well.

7. Aesthetics

Always aim to make a design that demonstrates simplicity and elegance while still including all the necessary functionality. At the end of the day, a customer is more willing to pay for a design that is visually appealing and that will better suit their environment. Turn to a laser cutter or different machines available in the machine shop (such as a belt sander) to give smooth edges and use fillets and chamfers to improve not only aesthetics but also strength and handling [1].

8. Identify the Materials

Keep in mind what materials you plan on using for your design. This will allow you to have a better understanding of the overall strength your design will have and how stable its structure will be. It can also give you an idea about the design's cost and availability. 

9. Ensure Everything Can Be Assembled

A rivet can be easily placed in a design model or drawing, but would you be able to reach it with a rivet gun [1]? Ensure that it is possible to assemble and, if required, disassemble any parts before diving further into the design.

10. Revisit the First Steps

Look back at your design and check if all the constraints and criteria are met. Think again if there are any new ways to improve your design or simplify any steps in the manufacturing process. Has anything been overlooked?