Introduction:
In precision fabrication, 70% of the manufacturing cost is determined at the drawing board. As an agile engineering team, we often see designs that are “over-engineered,” leading to unnecessary complexity and higher price tags.
Meida’s DFM Recommendations:
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Standardize Bend Radii: Using the same radius for all bends in a single part reduces tool changes on the press brake, saving significant labor time.
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Optimize Hole-to-Edge Distances: Placing holes too close to a bend line causes deformation, requiring expensive secondary corrections. Keeping a distance of at least $2 \times \text{Material Thickness}$ ensures a clean process.
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Tolerance Awareness: Is $\pm 0.05 \text{ mm}$ truly necessary for a mounting bracket? Relaxing non-critical tolerances to $\pm 0.2 \text{ mm}$ can reduce your scrap rate and unit price.
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Tab-and-Slot Alignment: Incorporating small tabs into your design makes assembly faster and reduces the need for expensive welding jigs.
The Bottom Line:
Consulting with our engineers during the design phase (DFM) doesn’t just improve quality—it protects your budget.