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• Additional Resources from Fictiv's Hardware Guide

  madelynn • 03/10/2017 at 21:06 • 0 comments

  Based on the discussion this afternoon, here are some of the most popular resources from the Fictiv Hardware Guide on mechanical design and more:

  • Design for Manufacturing Terminology: https://www.fictiv.com/hwg/design/design-for-manufacturing-terms
  • How to Design Living Hinges: https://www.fictiv.com/hwg/design/how-to-design-living-hinges
  • Strain Relief - Design Tips for Durability and Aesthetic Appeal https://www.fictiv.com/hwg/design/strain-relief-design-tips-for-durability-and-aesthetic-appeal
  • How to Design Light Pipes: https://www.fictiv.com/hwg/design/learn-by-example-how-to-design-light-pipes
  • Enclosure Design 101: https://www.fictiv.com/hwg/design/enclosure-design-101
  • Best Practices for Adding Ribs and Gussets to 3D Printed Parts for Structural Integrity: https://www.fictiv.com/hwg/design/best-practices-for-adding-ribs-and-gussets-to-3d-printed-parts-for-structural-integrity
  • Guide to Excellent Button Design: https://www.fictiv.com/hwg/design/right-on-the-button-using-button-design-as-a-showcase-for-excellence
  • How to Conduct a Failure Modes and Effects Analysis: https://www.fictiv.com/hwg/design/how-to-conduct-a-failure-modes-and-effects-analysis
  • Heat Sink Design Guide: https://www.fictiv.com/hwg/design/heat-sink-design-guide
  • PCB Design - How to Balance Functionality in the Context of Mechanical Constraints: https://www.fictiv.com/hwg/design/pcb-design-how-to-balance-functionality-in-the-context-of-mechanical-constraints
  • How to Conduct Tolerance Analysis for 3D Printed Parts: https://www.fictiv.com/hwg/design/how-to-conduct-a-tolerance-analysis-for-3d-printed-parts

  There are many, many more in the Hardware Guide (fictiv.com/hwg) - and we are always looking for additional suggestions. If you have feedback, questions, or ideas on what guides we should write next, email Fictiv's Community Director at madelynn@fictiv.com, or help@fictiv.com

• (edited) Transcript for Mechanical Manufacturing HackChat

  Lutetium • 03/10/2017 at 20:37 • 0 comments

  sylvia says:33 minutes ago

  Hello everyone, My name is Sylvia. I'm a manufacturing engineer at Fictiv. Prior to Fictiv I worked as a product design engineer and dabbed in industrial design. Here to take your product design, manfuacturing, and DFM questions.

  Lutetium says:33 minutes ago

  welcome @sylvia!

  Shulie Tornel says:32 minutes ago

  PSA: *If chat is lagging, pls refresh!*

  anays says:32 minutes ago

  Yay

  Maksim Surguy says:32 minutes ago

  Hello @sylvia

  Lutetium says:32 minutes ago

  We typically fire questions but use the sheet https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1PA_oiwXWhUOlCm1dZIhK6nVjsuoL1e09FHLdHXpSJoc/edit#gid=0 as a conversation starter

  sylvia says:32 minutes ago

  I can start off with @altometer's question about button sourcing. Button feel is a combination of the underlying switch, optional springback device, and button top.

  Scott says:31 minutes ago

  I'm here from the reminder email as well.

  sylvia says:31 minutes ago

  The common switches are pushbutton vs metal dome. These give you "clicky" button feel.

  sylvia says:30 minutes ago

  if you don't like the clickiness you can use a conductive pill to short across contacts. See Fictiv's Nintendo and Xbox controller teardown articles to get a sense of what that looks like.

  https://www.fictiv.com/blog/posts/nintendo-controller-teardown-part-1

  https://www.fictiv.com/blog/posts/xbox-controller-teardown

  Lutetium says:30 minutes ago

  @altometer are you thinking about making custom buttons?

  altometer says:29 minutes ago

  Yeah. I like the tactile feel of a click, but the sound drives everyone around me mad. I need something like a surface-mount Brown switch that's about 5mm in diameter.

  sylvia says:29 minutes ago

  button tops have a small impact on overall button feel, in most cases the switch makes the most difference.

  sylvia says:28 minutes ago

  You can also look into microswitches, it's the switch used under most mice's L and R buttons.

  altometer says:28 minutes ago

  @Lutetium Think like the Super Nintendo buttons. I can't find caps for a reasonable price that don't look like cheapo skittles.

  Erin RobotGrrl says:28 minutes ago

  how do you get 2-stage buttons?

  Erin RobotGrrl says:28 minutes ago

  (like on a camera button?)

  davedarko says:28 minutes ago

  there are click buttons with different activation force btw

  sylvia says:27 minutes ago

  @Erin RobotGrrl that's a specialized switch, not a button top thing

  Erin RobotGrrl says:27 minutes ago

  is there a name for that switch?

  sylvia says:26 minutes ago

  @altometer i agree off-the-shelf button tops are pretty industrial looking. they are mostly for panel mounting. If you are doing at least ~1000 pieces you can get a custom button top injection molded for a reasonable cost.

  sylvia says:26 minutes ago

  alternatively, use SLS Nylon to print the button tops, tumble polish to get a smooth matte texture. Great 3D printing process for production.

  Lutetium says:24 minutes ago

  want to move on from buttons?

  davedarko says:23 minutes ago

  @Erin RobotGrrl you could stack a low force button on a high force button

  Lutetium says:23 minutes ago

  next up question from @Maksim Surguy: What are different ways to make a plastic box that is affordable in mass manufacturing?

  sylvia says:23 minutes ago

  @Maksim Surguy what kind of plastic box are you looking for? food-safe? for electronics? injection molding comes top of mind as a process

  altometer says:22 minutes ago

  Thanks @sylvia

  Maksim Surguy says:22 minutes ago

  @sylvia electronics, for a clock, but bigger (50cm x 10cm x 2.5cm )

  sylvia says:22 minutes ago

  @anziclone you can try solvent welding

  Erin RobotGrrl says:22 minutes ago

  @davedarko Oh! and have a plunger on the button top that stikes both button components? maybe there's a teardown of a camera somewhere that shows this!

  Maksim Surguy says:21 minutes ago

  @sylvia I need really nice finish on the front panel, glossy

  sylvia says:21 minutes ago

  @Maksim Surguy injection molding in ABS

  anays says:21 minutes ago

  Thank you @.Sys

  sylvia says:21 minutes ago

  gloss is achieved by polishing the mold, so every molded piece is glossy without secondary...

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