Learn just what rapid tooling design is, the basic types that make it up, what technologies are involved, and how this can be advantageous to you and your business.
Although many people have devices that use PCBs (printed circuit boards), not very many people understand their structure or purpose. Learn more about what a PCB is, how it’s made, and what its uses are from the infographic below.
Many industries and businesses in today’s world use CAD drafting as a way to initiate their production process. Check out the history of CAD and how it’s developed into the impressive software it is today.
Many companies that have a desire to compete can benefit significantly when they understand what reverse engineering is. The fact is that some of the best products on the market that offer true value to consumers may not become big hits in the marketplace because of a number of factors. Often, these are factors related to downsides with the company's internal manufacturing or marketing processes or problems with the product design itself. However, through reverse engineering services provided to your company through a reputable engineering firm, you may be able to take advantage of those products in a strategic way.
What Is Reverse Engineering? After you have found a product that you are interested in, you can work with an engineering firm for reverse engineering services. This is a process that involves deconstructing a product to determine how it was made. This is completed by the engineering firm in a detailed and precise manner. Schematics, plans and renderings may be drafted and prepared based on the reverse engineering process. The structure and function of the product and its operation may be noted in considerable detail through this process.
How Reverse Engineering Can Be Used In some cases, a product that may be viable and successful in the marketplace is floundering because the company has a poor marketing strategy, or the product may be priced too high for the target audience. A company like yours may use reverse engineering to create the same or an improved product. The design may be altered slightly to better meet the needs of the consumer, or the company may have better facilities to produce the product at less cost. These are just a few of the ways that one company may be able to benefit from manufacturing a similar product that is already available on the market today.
When You Select an Engineering Firm Not every engineering firm is skilled in this process, but you may need to find a firm that specializes in reverse engineering if you want the best results. More than that, the firm may need to have specialized skills in product design and development, PCB prototypes and other important areas. Keep in mind that the firm may be able to help you improve upon an existing design to make the product more marketable or to make its production more affordable. Because of these key benefits, the selection of an engineering firm is imperative to the end result of your efforts and to the success of the project.
Reverse engineering is a highly specialized form of design services that you can use strategically to improve your product line up. While you can also invent new products from scratch, you can improve upon existing products that your competitors have on the market today as well. By selecting an engineering firm to work with that has experience with reverse engineering, you are taking an important step toward improving the success of your company in new ways.
When you work with an engineering firm to create a prototype, a considerable amount of testing is conducted. The general goal of the testing is to ensure that the design fulfills the basic or detailed and specific requirements of the client. In addition, testing is also used to ensure that the end result will be beneficial for the product the prototype will be used with. One critical aspect of the design and testing phase involves design validation. Generally, the efforts of an engineering firm may be validated periodically throughout the design process to ensure client or customer satisfaction with the work as it progresses.
What Is Validation? Validation and verification are often used interchangeably, but they are actually very different. Validation refers to the process of ensuring that the right product is being built. Verification refers to the process of ensuring that it is being built the right way. The validation process often addresses concerns related to how acceptable or suitable the product will be for the customer or client. This is compared to verification, which ensures that the product is in compliance with customer specifications, regulatory requirements and other guidelines.
How Validation Affects Prototype Design When an engineering firm is designing a prototype for you, the first step in the process is to identify your specific needs and goals. From this stage, the engineers will begin drafting a plan, and the two-dimensional plan may be validated through a face-to-face meeting or by providing you with the plans. If these plans are approved, a three-dimensional prototype may be created. This prototype may also need to be validated. In some cases, the initial design and prototype are approved of right away. In other cases, revisions may need to be made before the design project can progress.
Why Selecting the Right Engineering Firm Matters Regardless of the type of prototype that is being designed, the fact is that selecting the right engineering firm to work with is vital. The right engineering firm to choose has experience and expertise in the creation of prototypes similar to what you are asking for. In addition, the firm has a focus on quality control and customer service. The prototype design process may be lengthy and even daunting at times, but the right engineering firm will actively work to meet your specific needs and to validate the work they complete in critical stages throughout the development of a prototype.
When you are selecting an engineering firm to work with for any type of design project, it is imperative that you inquire about the design validation steps that are taken with the project. If the firm takes steps to validate its work by getting your approval in key stages, this actually may save time in the design process and ensure your satisfaction. This is because any issues can be remedied quickly before additional time and effort are spent on the project. As you search for a reputable engineering firm to work with, keep the validation process in mind.
Printed circuit boards, otherwise known as PCBs, are found in many types of electrical equipment. For example, they may be used in products that range from home computers and laptops to cell phones, remote controls, televisions and many other devices. There are many variations in how a PCB may be designed and manufactured, and understanding what a PCB design is is a great first step to take to having a professional prototype created and refined specifically for your needs.
Variations in PCBs A PCB is a vital component that is used in electronic devices, and it is comprised of one or more copper layers coupled with pads and conducive tracks. It may also be coupled with components like resistors, capacitors and other types of components. The PCB may or may not also be designed with different wiring configurations, point-to-point construction and other design elements. There are benefits and advantages to the use of different features and design elements, and some of these variations may be suitable for you and your products. During the design process, you may work with an engineering team that first will define your needs. Then, the design may be created to your specifications.
The Creation of a Prototype A PCB prototype is generally designed, refined and improved upon before the manufacturing process begins. This intelligent device is typically responsible for supporting and connecting different components in a device or product electronically. In order to ensure that the PCB meets the needs of the manufacturer for a specific product, a design must be created. A professional engineering firm that specializes in PCB design and manufacturing may work with you closely to design and improve upon a prototype that perfectly meets your needs. This must be completed before the PCB can be mass-produced for assembly purposes.
The Right Engineering Firm There are several engineering firms that you may choose to work with for the design of a PCB prototype. The best firm is one that has considerable experience designing many types of prototypes. The PCB industry is expansive because of the prevalence of these boards in a wide range of product types used around the globe. The best firm is one that also will actively work with you to design a PCB that can be manufactured on a large-scale basis with minimized cost to you. The different variations in the boards will affect the cost of production, so the right design may make it more affordable for you to produce your products.
When you ask what PCB design is, you will see that this is a step in the process that is critical to the overall manufacturing process for many types of products. Creating the right PCB design for your product is important for many reasons, and the right engineering firm will assist you in the creation of a design and prototype that is best-suited for your needs. You can begin learning more about the prototype design process when you reach out to an engineering firm that specializes in PCB creation.
When you begin searching for an engineering firm to use for the design of your next products, you may hear several terms that you are unfamiliar with. One common term used in the engineering field is computer-aided design, or CAD. When you understand what CAD drafting is and how CAD programs work, you can make a better decision about how to move forward with your next project and which engineering firm to work with.
A Closer Look at CAD With computer-aided design, the engineer works with a specialized computer program to create a design or plan for your next project. The computer program enables faster and more detailed creation of plans. It also enables easier modifications and analysis of the design or plan. Altogether, this is a type of software program that is used to simplify the design process and even to hasten all aspects of design and modifications. In many cases, it provides improved results as well.
Different Types of CAD Programs There are essentially two different types of CAD programs. These are vector-based programs and raster-based programs. Vector-based programs use more traditional methods to create the drafts. Raster graphics may more accurately depict the finished result of the project. Through the use of the program, you may learn more about the types of materials that need to be used, the work processes that may be best, the dimensions of the project and other information that may be critical to the finished result. In many cases, both types of CAD programs are used to effectively complete the design stage of the project.
Engineering Firms That Use CAD Programs The majority of engineering firms use CAD programs, but some will utilize more advanced programs than others. The best engineering firms are those that use the most modern software programs available, and these programs may effectively be used to create and modify plans to suit the client's needs. While some programs may only be used for two-dimensional purposes, others may be used to create three-dimensional renderings. Many programs provide the user with assistance in both of these areas. In addition, the firm may provide the files created from the CAD programs in a digital format so that they can be used for more advanced manufacturing processes.
If you are searching for an engineering firm to work with for the design of any type of product, there is a strong likelihood that CAD programs will be used. As you interview engineering firms, inquire about the type of CAD software programs that are used by the firm as well as the other innovative services that are offered by the firm. The most advanced and sophisticated firms may provide you with faster service along with more detailed renderings.
We have just bought a new Oxford Instruments spectrometer for analysing different metals. Incredibly easy to use, but I never thought it would be so difficult to get hold of the certified standard material samples used to calibrate the machine before tests.
There are only a few places in China allowed by the government to officially certify materials so basically they can charge what they want for the samples as they have a monopoly. The material samples are probably going to end up costing as much as the machine itself - luckily the boss doesn't know yet.
That aside I have been having a lot of fun playing with it and making sure stuff we made in the past was what it was supposed to be - all good on that front so far.