TABLE OF CONTENTS Before starting a design, it is essential to have all the information necessary to enable a successful design to be achieved. Many problems occur when this simple rule is not followed, often leading to poor designs, misunderstandings, poor component quality and arguments between suppliers and end users.
An experienced designer will almost automatically make sure that all the steps necessary are followed, but even then the sheer number of potential pitfalls may catch out such a designer from time to time. It is therefore beneficial to have a checklist that that can be added to and can be ticked off point by point to ensure that nothing has been overlooked.
Original estimate details
Component drawing
Component geometry
Component material
Quantity required
Component function
Component tolerances
Number of impressions
Gating method
Ejection method
Component aesthetics
It is essential that the original estimate details are available to the designer from the beginning. These should include all the information necessary to enable the design to be undertaken.
If these details are unclear or if any information is missing, this must be taken up with the estimator at the earliest opportunity. Without a clearly defined design brief, the mould tool design should not be started.
The fact that the estimator has made value judgements in preparing quotations does not mean that these are cast in stone. Estimates are often prepared very quickly and by definition they may not be as fully thought out as they would...
