Product structure design principle is the fundamental concept and guidelines in product structure design.
These guidelines ensure that the product structure design is rational.
For both plastic and hardware products, product structure design principles cover appropriate selection of materials, choosing a reasonable structure, simplifying mold structure, and controlling costs.
01 Reasonable selection of materials
All products are composed of materials.
When designing products, the initial step is to consider material selection.
Materials not only affect the function of the product, but also influence its cost.
So how do we choose materials rationally?
(1) Choose based on product application:
Requirements for materials in different applications may vary. For example,
- For daily consumer electronic products, materials that are strong, easy to treat the surface, resistant to rust and wear, and easy to mold, such as PC, ABS, PC+ABS for plastic materials, and stainless steel, aluminum and zinc alloy for metallic materials are preferred.
- In the food industry, non-toxic and tasteless, low temperature resistant, high temperature resistant or even non-additive materials, such as PET for beverage bottles, PPPE for food packaging bags and PP or PC for cups, are necessary.
(2) Choose based on product market orientation:
A product's positioning in the market also affects material selection. Products are categorized into high, medium and low quality based on quality.
- High-quality products require excellent materials.
- Medium quality products require materials with acceptable performance.
- Low-quality products require materials that minimize costs as much as possible.
(3) Choose based on product function:
Material selection depends on the function of the product. For example,
- Products that move require wear-resistant materials. Many metal materials are generally wear-resistant, and wear-resistant plastic materials such as PA (nylon) and POM or rubber materials such as natural rubber can be used.
(4) Choose based on company requirements:
Each company has its own suppliers, including materials. For a single product, there are several materials that can meet the project requirements, and their prices may vary. Material selection must take into account the company's specific circumstances.
02 Read reasonable structure
The product structure design should not be overly complex.
In fact, a simpler structure is preferred, as long as it meets the product's function.
A simpler structure is easier to shape, produce and assemble and reduces the likelihood of problems.
For example, there are several ways to fix the structure of a product, including screw fixing, buckle fixing, double-sided adhesive fixing, hot melt fixing, ultrasonic welding fixing, etc.
When choosing these methods, it is recommended:
- Prefer screw fixation as it is the most reliable and detachable method.
- Use buckle fastening, which is convenient and simple, in combination with screws for better reliability.
- Reserve double-sided adhesive fixing, hot-melt fixing, etc. to specific locations when necessary.
In the design of the product structure, redundant structures are not allowed. This means design time is wasted, mold processing becomes more challenging, and materials are used unnecessarily.
When designing the product structure, it is important to include only what is necessary and exclude what is not. Every structure must serve a purpose, including every buckle, reinforcement, etc.
03 T ry to simplify the structure of the matrix
After product design is completed, a mold is required to form the product. Even if the product structure design is sound, if the mold cannot be created or is difficult to create, the structure will be considered unsatisfactory.
As a structural engineer, it is crucial to have a basic understanding of molds, including their basic structure, product molding method, and mold output. In this way, the mold structure can be simplified as much as possible during product design.
For example, undercutting on the die affects the normal output of the die. Sliders and slanted tops are commonly used to solve the problem of undercutting, but this increases the complexity of the die and the production cost of the die.
In structural design, efforts must be made to handle mold curvatures so that the product can be removed from the mold normally. Some internal buckles can be rubbed or tapped to simplify the mold structure. However, some buckles must be maintained and can only be accomplished by adding a slider or slanted top to the die.
Therefore, in product design, the mold should be simplified as much as possible while meeting the basic needs of the product.
04 Ost control
Cost is a crucial aspect of the product.
The cost level significantly impacts the company's profit margin.
Cost control starts at the beginning of product design.
In product structure design, cost control should focus on the following areas:
(1) When selecting materials, prioritize materials that are low in price and at the same time meet the function of the product.
(2) When modeling the product shape, reduce the number of parts as much as possible while maintaining the desired appearance.
(3) The structure should be simplified as much as possible during product design to reduce the mold cost.
(4) Choose a suitable fastening method during product structure design to save production and assembly costs.
(5) Adopt appropriate surface treatment methods during product surface treatment, based on product positioning and appearance requirements, to reduce processing costs.
(6) Make maximum use of the company's existing materials in designing the product structure and seek to unify material specifications, such as the screw model.
