Basic Mechanical Design Process

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The object of engineering is to provide society with the requirements of a modern civilization. As an applied science, engineering uses scientific knowledge to achieve a specific objective. The mechanism whereby a requirement is converted to a meaningful and functional plan is called design. In other words, design is the formulation of a plan, a scheme, or a method to translate a need into a satisfactorily functioning device that satisfies the original need. For example, the manufacturers of machine tool must follow the plans of design engineers. In fact, virtually all technical functions depend upon design for their successful operation.

Design process is the usual pattern of activities that are followed by the designer in arriving at the solution of a technological problem. Many combinations of steps have been suggested to enable one to achieve design objectives. Fig. 2. 1 shows a typical form of design flow diagram. The first step of design recognition of a need, may have its origin in any number of sources. Customer reports on the product function and quality may force a redesign. Business and industrial competition ...
... are constantly forcing the need for new D&G jewelry equipment, processes and machinery designs.

Once a need has been established, its requirements must be carefully spelled out. This step is labeled specifications and requirements. Very often the initial phase of a project is stymied at this point because specifications are stated in such general terms as to indicate that the client has only a vague idea of what he really wants. On the other hand, a variety of sophisticated engineering clients submit specifications that are written in great detail, where both the design and performance requirements are carefully stated.

The purpose of study is to verify the possible success or failure of a proposal both from the technical and economic standpoint. The feasibility study should not be misinterpreted as having the demise of a product as its purpose. It is apparent, then, that the individuals responsible for making a feasibility study are going to be engineers with strong design backgrounds, knowledge of the engineering sciences, and a good grasp of material usage, production methods, and sales department requirements.

The step of creative design synthesis is perhaps the most challenging and interesting part of design. Creativity can be defined as the synthesis of various new and/or old ideas and concepts in such a way as to produce an overall new idea or concept. Once a choice has been made we enter the domain entitled preliminary design and development. At this stage, layout drawings showing machine or system interfaces are made to determine the overall configuration and to establish functional relations between various parts of the machine or system. Detailed design is concerned with the actual sizing and dimensioning of all the individual components, both fabricated and purchased, that go into making the total product, device, or system.

After completing all the details, the subassemblies and assembly drawings including the materials and parts list, the completed design is sent to the prototype or model shop for fabrication. The prototype (machine or system), after having been built, is ready for cheap Cartier jewelry evaluation and testing. The test results may or may not yield data that requires change or modifications in the preliminary design or detailed design area. This possibility is indicated by the feedback loop (Fig. 2. 1).

In modern day nomenclature, design for production is sometimes called value analysis and is becoming an ever-growing and more important consideration in design. When the production drawings have been completed, they are sent to the production department for product release. Production prototype is usually made and tested, and any malfunction that cannot be easily corrected is generally referred back to preliminary design and development or to detailed design for alteration. This process is indicated by the feedback loop originating in the product release box (Fig. 2.1). Once a choice of a design has been made, preliminary and subsequent detailed design takes place as shown in Fig. 2.1. At this time it is necessary to draw the layouts, provide the details, perform the tests, make the supporting calculations, and so on, that will ultimately result in prototype design. This is the area where the designer must specify dimensions, select components and materials, and in general consider such things as methods of manufacture, cost, reliability, serviceability, and safety. The designer must rely upon his analytical ability and training in the engineering sciences to accomplish these objectives.