Process

What is design for manufacturability?

Design for manufacturability, also known as design for manufacturing or DFM, is the general engineering practice of designing products in such a way that they are easy to manufacture.

During product development, when should I engage with an optical engineering team?

Ideally, Precision Optics can work with your engineering team in phase zero (product ideation) to determine initially achievable specifications and specifications practical for manufacturing, including optical assembly requirements, image resolution needs, and the best process for optical fabrication and assembly.

What are best practices for design for manufacturability?

While there are always trade-offs in optical system design, an experienced optical design team can help you to make appropriate decisions from the start.

As one goes through the design process, have the design forms assessed in early stages by both the design and fabrication teams. Then, as the system becomes more defined, estimate tolerances, and run a Monte Carlo simulation on the effects of tolerance stacking on MTF resolution, line of sight, and depth of field, all of which may require an adjustment to the optical design. 

Tolerance analysis of the mechanical design can also provide valuable feedback and can confirm that the tolerances for the opto-mechanical system will satisfy functional and performance requirements as predicted.

Experience makes the difference. Contact our team with any questions about the manufacturability of your optical assembly.

Discuss your design requirements.