ABSTRACT
This chapter lists some general guidelines for part design, including fabrication, part standardization, symmetry, tolerances, part shapes, and combining parts and functions. For critical parts, the part designer should be an early and active participant in the system engineering of the product or subassembly to help optimize the systems architecture concept that determines the part’s requirements. The part designer must understand the purpose of the part, how it fits in, how it relates to the whole, and the relative importance of function and performance, cost, rigidity, weight, and tolerances, especially stacks it is a part of:
Investigate past or similar parts to learn from their good or bad histories with respect to function, quality, cost, manufacturability, ramps, etc. First consider off-the-shelf parts. Thoroughly search for and investigate available candidates. Explore all the ways to design and make the part. Don’t just jump at the first idea that comes to mind. Choose the optimal design approach. Keep thinking about how the part is to be made throughout the design process.
