In order to innovate and improve a technology or process, designers must have an in-depth knowledge of existing systems, either because they had a hand in the design of the originals or because they applied reverse engineering principles. Reverse engineering as a...
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The Basics of Heat Sinks: How Do They Work?
You don’t need to be an MIT graduate to know that electronic devices and machines generate heat when operating. When left unsupervised, this situation can quickly lead to the device overheating, causing it to malfunction. Then, unless you react quickly enough, this...
Snap-fit Design 101: Basics, Types, and Best Practices for Snap Fit Joints
Have you recently come up with a product idea, or do you need to manufacture parts with special requirements? If so, you’re likely looking to create high-quality parts while reducing manufacturing costs and improving aesthetics and ease of assembly. One essential...
What is Diamond-like Carbon Coating? Here is What Product Designers Must Know
Are you a product designer looking to create parts or components that will make contact with other parts or assemblies, or do you plan to create products that will be exposed to harsh chemicals or environments? If so, you must choose a material with high wear and...
Springs 101: Understanding the Basics and Types of Springs
Springs are mechanical components that elastically absorb applied loads. By “elastically,” we mean that these springs will return to their original position once you remove the applied load. This makes them useful in applications that demand energy storage or...
Back to the Basics: Types of Fasteners and How to Choose Them
Modern machinery usually comprises several parts assembled to make a fully-operational product. However, these pieces of machinery usually generate huge forces and experience vibrations large enough to disassemble the parts and cause failure. Fasteners are essential...
Technical Drawings in Manufacturing: Here is What Every Product Designer Must Know
CNC machining has completely revolutionized the product development and manufacturing processes today. For instance, product designers can now create 3D CAD models and computer programs, which the CNC machine uses to automate manufacturing and fabricate parts....
Metal Strength Chart: Here is What Every Product Designer Must Know
What is the ideal metal (or metal alloy) for my project? Product designers commonly ask this question during the product development phase. And while many factors contribute to the success of a metal alloy for a product development project, the alloy’s mechanical...
6 Types of Rivets That Design Engineers Need to Know About
Are you an engineer looking to turn your product design into a reality, or do you have parts you’re looking to assemble using fasteners? If so, you’d agree that rivets are among the most commonly used fasteners for assembly because of their supreme fastening...
CNC CAD Design: An Overview for Product Designers
Computer numerical control (CNC) machinesㅡwhich utilize a rotating cylindrical tool to create cuts in a workpiece autonomouslyㅡhave completely revolutionized the manufacturing industry. This manufacturing technology eliminates the human error common in conventional...