Engineering & production / Co-founder’s point of view

Structure, determines how to implement it

Structural design is not about adding wall thickness to the appearance, but organizing devices, assembly, materials, processing and usage requirements into a product that can be manufactured and verified. We are more concerned about whether the data can continue to be used, not just whether it can be installed in the software.

Co-creator R&D · EditorRead about 4 minutes
The separated shell sample exposes the openings, mounting posts and component relationships for discussion of structure and assembly.
The separated shell sample exposes the openings, mounting posts and component relationships for discussion of structure and assembly.

What does product structure design include? From device layout to trial production verification

Let’s look at the conclusion first

  • Internal layout, assembly sequence and maintenance space should be considered together.
  • Critical dimensions should have benchmarks and acceptance criteria.
  • Problems discovered during prototypes, trial molds, and trial production must be written back into the design.
01 / Engineering & production

Start with components and assembly sequence

主板、电池、电机、屏幕与线束不是简单填满空腔。它们影响重心、散热、开孔、操作位置和维护方式。结构方案需要明确哪些部件先装、工具从哪里进入、连接器如何插接。

以小型电子产品为例,外观体积缩小后,螺钉位置和走线空间可能同时改变。与其等样件装不进去再切改,不如在模型阶段把操作空间也作为要检查的对象。

02 / Engineering & production

The connection scheme must serve the purpose of use and maintenance

卡扣、螺钉、粘接和其他连接方式各有适用条件。一次装配与需要重复拆卸的产品,不应只因外观相似就使用同一方案。载荷、使用频率、材料和环境都需要纳入判断。

设计评审不只看零件能否连接,还要问连接后会怎样:是否容易松动、是否影响清洁、返修是否要破坏外壳。把这些问题提前写清,才能决定哪些部位需要样机或专项测试。

03 / Engineering & production

Process is not an additional instruction after the design is completed.

注塑、钣金、压铸、CNC 和打印对结构的要求不同。分型、加工可达性、表面要求与装配基准,都可能反过来影响外观和分件方式。具体数值应由材料、尺寸和工艺条件确定,不能机械套用一份通用参数表。

我们建议在结构收敛过程中与加工或模具环节进行评审,保留需要供应商确认的项目。尽早看到制造问题,比在完整数据交付后再大范围修改更容易控制。

04 / Engineering & production

What is delivered is data that can be connected

三维文件之外,项目可能需要工程图、关键尺寸、材料说明、物料信息和装配要求。并非每个项目都要同样完整,但需要根据后续使用者确认,避免资料看起来齐全却缺少最关键的判断依据。

手板、试模和小批量验证中的问题,也应进入版本记录。真正的结构收敛不是“图已经发出”,而是关键问题被识别、处理和复核,客户知道下一阶段仍有哪些待办。

Co-founder suggestions/What to do next

The value of structural design lies in allowing products to be assembled, used, maintained, and continue to collaborate with manufacturing links. The availability of files is more important than the number of files.

Reference sources and caliber

The product judgments in this article are compiled by the co-creators and do not represent the views of the source institution. Date of verification of statistical and technical data:2026-09-20; When it comes to specific projects, it still needs to be confirmed based on the sample, process and delivery requirements.

  1. Design for Manufacturing With 3D PrintingFormlabs
  2. Rapid Prototyping: rapid prototyping applicationFormlabs

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