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'''Design for manufacturability''' ('''DFM'''), also called '''design for manufacturing''', is the practice of shaping a product so that it can be made reliably and at a reasonable cost. The review happens early, while the design can still be changed cheaply. A change on the drawing costs little. The same change on a finished steel tool costs far more. | '''Design for manufacturability''' ('''DFM'''), also called '''design for manufacturing''', is the practice of shaping a product so that it can be made reliably and at a reasonable cost. The review happens early, while the design can still be changed cheaply. A change on the drawing costs little. The same change on a finished steel tool costs far more. | ||
Revision as of 17:07, 11 November 2026
 | This article contains promotional content. (November 2026) |
Design for manufacturability (DFM), also called design for manufacturing, is the practice of shaping a product so that it can be made reliably and at a reasonable cost. The review happens early, while the design can still be changed cheaply. A change on the drawing costs little. The same change on a finished steel tool costs far more.
In injection moulding
In injection moulding, a DFM review is a moldability check of the part design. Its aim is to confirm that the part can be moulded reliably and at the right cost before any tool is made.[1]
The reviewer usually looks at these features in the CAD model:
- Wall thickness. Walls should be as even as the part allows. Thick or uneven walls cool slowly and unevenly, which can cause warpage and sink marks.
- Draft angles. A slight taper on the sides of the part lets it slide out of the mould without dragging.
- Ribs and bosses. Ribs are thin supporting walls. Bosses are cylindrical posts, often used for screws.
- Undercuts. These are features that block the part from releasing from the mould.
- Gate locations. The gate is the small opening where plastic enters the cavity. Its position affects how the cavity fills.
Problems are flagged with suggested fixes, and the part is changed until it can be moulded.[1][2]
Related checks
Once the part is moldable, the mould itself is designed. Some mould makers add further steps at this stage:
- mould flow analysis, a simulation of how melted plastic fills the cavity
- choosing the number of cavities and the parting line
- optimising the gate, runner and cooling layout
- a design sign-off before the tool is cut[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "DFM & Injection Mold Design Services". Radiant Design. Retrieved 11 November 2026.
- ↑ "Injection Molding Process Steps: Pellets to Parts". Radiant Design. Retrieved 11 November 2026.