Design for Manufacturing (DFM): Ensuring Success in Electronics Production with US-Based Injection Molding

Economic uncertainty can make it difficult to deliver reliable, scalable, and cost-effective final products, especially in the competitive electronics industry. In’Tech Industries is your US-based injection molding provider. We use design for manufacturing (DFM) principles to reduce your costs, improve quality, and get your product to market faster from our cutting-edge facility in Minnesota.

Let’s take a closer look at DFM, domestic injection molding, and how they can help you manage costs and maintain high standards of quality for your molded electronic components.

Why DFM and Domestic Injection Molding Work Well Together

When you apply DFM principles to your product development process, you consider production realities early in the design process. This helps you anticipate delays, minimize rework, and reduce the total cost of your product. Working with a US-based injection molding provider adds even more value in the following ways:

·         Easy collaboration between your design team and our engineering team

·         Faster prototyping iterations, especially when using In’Tech’s 3-D printing capabilities

·         Local quality control and oversight

·         Reduced shipping times

·         Fewer supply chain disruptions

In today’s economic environment, working with a domestic injection molding provider can mean the difference between success and setback on your project.

DFM for Injection Molded Electronic Components

Here are three ways In’Tech Industries applies DFM principles to injection molding for electronic components.

Design for Moldability

Designing for moldability reduces complexity and improves part consistency, two factors that are important for high-volume runs. At In’Tech, we optimize your design to maintain uniform wall thickness to prevent warping and sink marks in your parts. We also include draft angles and minimize undercuts to ease part ejection where appropriate.

Optimize Part Geometry

Saving time and costs on molded electronic components is a priority for many manufacturers, especially in uncertain times. In’Tech Industries works with you to optimize the geometries of your components to reduce complexity and thus difficulty and expense. Some examples of how we optimize part geometry is by using ribs to reinforce thin walls, incorporating snap fits for easy assembly, and avoiding sharp internal corners to reduce stress concentrations.

Choose the Correct Material

In’Tech stocks a wide variety of engineering-grade materials, which allows us to reduce lead times and avoid sourcing delays during your product run. Before we start production, we will work with your team to identify the optimal material for your product. We may discuss electrically insulative or flame-rated materials, rigid and flexible options for overmolded parts, and high-flow plastics for thin-wall designs. By thinking these choices through before we start work on your parts, we can save time and costs.

Maximizing Your US-Based Injection Molding Investment

To maximize your investment in US-based injection molding for your electronic components, consider these four tips.

1.      Design for quick assembly to save costs and time once parts are molded. This may include snap fits, alignment guides, and minimal fasteners.

2.      Account for tolerances and shrinkage in your design before moving into production.

3.      Plan for scalability if you intend to ramp volume or release multiple part variants.

4.      Work with In’Tech Industries early in the process, as early, real-time collaboration can shorten your development phase and reduce rework.

When you apply DFM principles and work with a US-based injection molding partner like In’Tech Industries, you set yourself and your product run up for streamlined production, long-term reliability, and faster market delivery.

Our expert engineers and injection molding team are here to help you take your product from concept to production with confidence. Get in touch with us today discuss your project