Design rules for manufacturing
Check a design against what shops actually need before you ask for quotes. Each page gives typical tolerances, the right file format, the rules with their reasons, a checklist for your quote request and the mistakes people make most. AI agents can read the same rules through our MCP tools get_design_rules and check_design.
Laser cutting
Cutting flat sheet and plate with a laser; fast and precise, with a small heat-affected edge.
CNC machining
Milling and turning parts from solid metal or plastic with computer-controlled machines.
Sheet metal fabrication
Flat parts cut by laser, waterjet or punch and bent on a press brake.
3D printing
Building parts layer by layer (FDM, SLA/resin, SLS powder, metal powder bed) for prototypes and complex shapes.
Injection molding
Forcing molten plastic into a steel or aluminium mold; cheap per part at volume, expensive to start.
PCB and electronics assembly
Making and populating circuit boards, usually with surface-mount parts placed by machine.
Die casting
Injecting molten aluminium, zinc or magnesium into a steel die; only pays off at volume.
Welding and fabrication
Joining metal parts by fusion; used for frames, enclosures and structures.
Waterjet cutting
Cutting almost any material with a high-pressure water and abrasive jet, without heat.
Metal stamping
Pressing sheet metal into shape with dies; very cheap per part at volume, expensive to tool.
Forging
Shaping hot or cold metal under pressure for strong parts with favourable grain flow.
Heat treatment
Changing the properties of metal by controlled heating and cooling (hardening, tempering, annealing, case hardening).
Grinding and polishing
Removing small amounts of material for precise dimensions and smooth surfaces.
Casting and foundry
Pouring molten metal into a mold: sand, investment (lost wax) or gravity casting.
Wire forming and springs
Bending and coiling wire into springs, clips, hooks and wire forms.
Steel construction and metal fabrication
Fabricated and erected structural steel: frames, platforms, stairs, railings.
Surface finishing
Coatings and treatments: anodizing, powder coating, plating, passivation, blasting.
These are typical rules of thumb, not a guarantee. A manufacturer's own design guidelines always win: ask for them and check your design against both.