Design for manufacturability
Design the manufacturing route before building the tool
Injection mold design and DFM analysis come first: we check your part and run mold flow analysis before any steel is cut.
A successful production programme starts with the relationship between part design, material, tooling and assembly. Our engineering design and DFM support addresses those decisions together.
We review drawings and CAD models to identify critical features, mating surfaces, material requirements and opportunities to simplify production. For moulded products, mould flow analysis supports decisions about filling, gating and potential moulding problems. Moulds are designed in full 3D with Pro-E, UG, SolidWorks and AutoCAD.
What our design review covers
- Critical features and mating surfaces
- Material requirements and selection
- Opportunities to simplify production
- Mould flow analysis: filling, gating and potential defects
- Access, fixturing, operation sequence and inspection for machined and fabricated parts
Prototype to production
Planning the transition to recurring orders
Prototype and production requirements are considered separately: a process suited to design validation may differ from the route selected for recurring orders. We help plan that transition, including sample approval, tooling changes and the release of production documentation.
Mould design and DFM at a glance
| File formats | STEP or IGES preferred; also Parasolid, SolidWorks, UG/NX, Creo (Pro/E), DWG/DXF and PDF drawings |
|---|---|
| DFM review | Critical features, mating surfaces, material selection and ways to simplify production |
| Mould flow | Filling, gating and potential moulding defects analysed before the tool is built |
| Design tools | Full 3D mould design in Pro-E, UG, SolidWorks and AutoCAD |
| Tolerances | ISO 20457 / DIN 16742 tolerance groups as a guide; critical dimensions agreed during DFM |
| ODM support | From a sketch, reference sample or functional specification to a 3D design and prototypes |
Mould design and DFM: frequently asked questions
What do you need for a DFM review and quotation?
Your 3D model or drawing, the material (or required properties), annual quantity, colour and finish requirements, and any critical dimensions or standards that apply. STEP and IGES are the preferred 3D formats.
What does mould flow analysis tell you?
How the plastic fills the cavity, where the gates should be and where moulding problems are likely, so that gating, cooling and wall thickness can be corrected before the steel is cut.
Which tolerances can you hold on moulded parts?
As a guide we work to ISO 20457 / DIN 16742 tolerance groups and discuss critical dimensions during DFM, including whether steel-safe allowances are needed for final tuning.
Can you design the product as well as the mould (mold)?
Yes. Under our ODM service our engineers can develop the product design, make prototypes for testing, then build the mould and produce the parts.