Research in Interactive Design Vol. 3

Abstract

Design for Assembly and Design for Manufacturing methodologies aim at making products easier to fabricate and assemble based upon the limitations of current processes, however due to the capacities of Rapid Manufacturing processes these limitations no longer apply and new possibilities aren't taken into account. This paper describes a design methodology for Rapid Manufacturing through which the user can consolidate and optimize a product using the capacities of Rapid Manufacturing processes. The proposed methodology is then applied to a mechanical assembly.