The Role of a Product Design Engineer
As a mechanical product design engineer, you are the bridge between conceptual design and tangible product. Your role is multifaceted, involving everything from initial concept sketches to detailed 3D modeling and final product testing. You must be adept at problem-solving, possess a keen eye for detail, and have a thorough understanding of manufacturing processes.
Working Cross-Functionally
Collaboration is a key aspect of this role and you will work to find an amicable balance and agreement with other team members.
You will frequently work with:
Industrial Designers: To refine the aesthetic and ergonomic aspects of the product. They will push you on what is possible and you will push them back with realism based on you engineering knowledge.
CMF (Color, Materials, Finish): To create an end product that portrays quality, feel and visual appeal to the consumer. This will call for variables such as dimension changes, texture or polish in the tool that will affect features in your design such as draft and wall thickness.
Electrical Engineers: To ensure that the mechanical design accommodates all necessary electronic components and complies with thermal and electromagnetic considerations.
Manufacturing Engineers: To get feedback on manufacturability early and often, ensuring that the design can be efficiently produced at scale.
Marketing Teams: To understand customer needs and ensure the product meets market expectations and claims.
Supply Chain Managers: To select appropriate materials and components that meet cost and availability constraints.
Manufacturing Considerations
Understanding the manufacturing process is crucial. You need to design with manufacturability in mind, which includes considerations like:
Material Selection: Choosing materials that balance performance, cost, and manufacturability.
Tolerance Analysis: Ensuring parts fit together correctly while accounting for manufacturing variability.
Assembly Processes: Designing parts that can be easily and reliably assembled.
DFM Feedback: Incorporating feedback from manufacturers to improve the design and reduce production costs and time.
Clean Master CAD Modeling
When creating your 3D models, consider using a master modeling approach. This method helps in managing complex assemblies and making iterative changes efficiently.
Start with a Skeleton Master Model: Create baseline sketches, planes, and surfaces that will act as the building blocks for your assembly.
Build Solids in the Master: Develop the basic profile of your assembly and import industrial design CAD data if available.
Split Your Parts: Use offset surfaces or cut features to divide your master model into separate components, ensuring proper clearance and fit.
Save Off Your Parts: Depending on your CAD software, save the individual parts, maintaining references to the master model for easy adjustments.
Prototyping and Testing
Prototype early and often. Use 3D printing and other rapid prototyping techniques to validate your design. Testing these prototypes can reveal issues that might not be apparent in the CAD model.
Managing Multiple Projects
In a fast-paced work environment, you will often juggle multiple projects at different stages of development. Prioritize tasks based on deadlines and the criticality of each project. Use project management tools to keep track of your progress and ensure you stay on top of your workload.
Meeting Efficiency
Keep meetings short and focused. Ensure that every meeting has a clear agenda and objectives. If a meeting does not contribute to your current priorities, consider whether it can be skipped or rescheduled.
Conclusion
Despite the challenges, the role of a mechanical product designer is incredibly rewarding. The process of taking an idea from concept to reality, navigating through various design iterations, and finally seeing and feeling the finished product can be very fulfilling. By mastering clean modeling techniques and effectively collaborating with cross-functional teams, you can streamline your workflow and achieve great results, even in a fast-paced environment.
