Whether you’re an industrial designer or a project engineer, planning out the design of a fluidic system is a complex process.
While a product feature may seem appealing for one application, the same feature could be equally problematic when being applied to another system – even if the component modifications are only minor.
Therefore, it is critical to consider all possible and potential operational scenarios before finalizing the components of your system.
Here are three common traps designers fall into when trying to cut corners in the initial design of fluidic system projects:
· The tendency to redesign the wheel. When you’re not up to date with new products and technology innovation, you run the risk of investing your valuable time developing a product that’s already on the market and could be suitable for your application. To avoid extra steps in development, such as prototyping, consider similar existing products first as a baseline to work from.
· Deferring prototype and sample purchases to save costs. Time spent deliberating over the price of a product is extremely expensive. Working with a reliable supplier who not only stocks inventory for prototyping, but also has regular shipments from the major manufacturing locations can significantly reduce the time and freight costs associated with prototyping.
· Focusing on details when results will suffice. Long lead times for non-critical components means the final product inevitably incurs significant delays. Working with your supplier to identify what products with similar performance characteristics are available, or even those with a shorter lead time, can reduce your development time dramatically.
Here are three key tips on how to avoid these traps so you can stick to your budget and timeline:
· Engage a supplier with extensive knowledge of existing fluid system designs. When you utilize an experienced supplier, you won’t have to spend more time prototyping a design that already exists. Instead, you can better use your time and your client’s budget on the actual implementation phase of the fluidic system. Also, having a trusted specialist available to discuss your application can significantly reduce the prototyping period.
· Stay on top of new products in the fluidic system design space. It’s essential for designers and engineers to stay informed on the latest product innovations and developments. Without having knowledge of new technologies and products, you may inadvertently design something that’s already been released.
· Appoint a local supplier who sources their products from high quality domestic and international manufacturers. Having a locally based supplier guarantees you’ll be able to access leading brands without having to incur expensive shipping costs and extensive time delays. Domestic suppliers also provide immediate access to product samples and additional specifications required before and after installation.
The additional investment required at the design phase may make it feel as though your project has a higher risk of exceeding time and budget constraints. But this is rarely, if ever, the case. Additional design time is a small price to pay when the total project build is being considered.
Co-Authored by: CPC Marketing and Jonathan Barlow, VFV – a CPC channel partner
Jonathan Barlow is the Managing Director at Victoria Fittings and Valves (VFV) in Melbourne Australia. Jonathan has worked as a practicing engineer in both aerospace and oil industries, and understands the challenges facing designers, engineers and project managers throughout the design cycle of a project. VFV is a fluid technology company that specializes in products and systems for use in the biomedical and industrial sectors in Australia and also the wider Asia community.
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