Parts Manufacturing Processing

Parts Manufacturing and Material Processing

Parts Processing in Manufacturing

There are hundreds of product manufacturing processes and thousands of individual materials, most importantly new processes and materials are being developed continually. The selection of appropriate processes for the manufacture of a particular part is based upon a matching of the required attributes of the part and the various process capabilities. Once the overall functions of a part is determined, a list can be formulated giving the essential geometrical features, material properties, and other attributes that are required. This represents a “shopping list” that must be filled by the material properties and process capabilities. The attributes on the “shopping list” are related to the final function of the part and are determined by geometric and service conditions.

Most component parts are not produced by a single process, but require a sequence of different processes to achieve all the required attributes of the final part. This is particularly the case when forming or shaping processes are used as the initial process, and then material removal and finishing processes are required to produce some or all of the final part features. Combinations of many processes are used, and this is necessary because a single process cannot in general provide all of the attributes of the finished part. However on of the goals of DFMA (Design For Manufacturing and Assembly) analysis is product structure simplification and part consolidation. Experience shows that it is generally most economical to make the best use of the capabilities of the initial manufacturing process in order to provide as many of the required attributes of a part as possible.