Industrial Design Reference Book: Essential for Designers

Chapter 3: Manufacturing Processes from the Publisher Reference & Specification Book Series

Manufacturing process selection directly correlates with the user's needs, producer's resources, and time available to market the product. The sophistication level in mass production has significantly increased in relation to cost, allowing for consideration of numerous processes. In the realm of industrial design, plastics have emerged as the primary medium, closely followed by metals. Understanding the forming, finishing, and assembly of these materials is crucial. Designers are also more inclined to explore processes in ceramic, glass, and soft-goods manufacturing, emphasizing the importance of understanding various methods. With compression in development schedules, knowledge of rapid prototyping is now essential.

This chapter offers an overview of key manufacturing processes and terminology. One such process is Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM), where metal tooling is shaped using electrical discharge. The EDM tool, designed as the desired part, is charged and pressed onto the blank metal surface, slowly removing material to form the exact negative of the desired shape. Electrical discharge wire cutting, a variation of EDM, involves a moving charged wire cutting into the metal surface.

Metal forming processes covered in this chapter include casting, sand casting, investment casting, die casting, contour roll forming, deep draw (stamping), extrusion, forging, hydroforming, and spinning.

product information: