Appliance Design - September 2008 - (Page 34) INDUSTRIAL DESIGN & HUMAN FACTORS The new iMac from Apple features an aluminum casing. Samsung's new bioplastic phone, model F268, is made from material extracted from corn. products faster and cheaper are constantly under development. Examples can be found in new injection molding methods that use gas and/or water to more quickly produce parts. “You can’t separate materials from the method of converting them into product,” he says. Volume of production is also critical, Lefteri says. Glass, as an example, is relatively inexpensive, but when a glass product is hand-blown costs can skyrocket, he says. A small part with low profit margins can only be economically justified if it can be made quickly and in volume. In this scenario, faster cycle times are needed and the manufacturing process would be more akin to an injection molded plastic resin. In another scenario, if durability was pivotal, a metal casting or stamping might be the best answer. While some applications, such as in the medical device industry, are less concerned about cost considerations – functionality being paramount – for many applications, cost is the major factor. Most consumer product manufacturers have a good, better, and best product line that hits the low, middle and high price points. Product designers must balance design objectives with cost targets. Shifting material costs can force a rethinking of design. Manufacturers that use stainless steel, for instance, have been hurt by a dramatic AD09081Ven2.indd 1 34 applianceDESIGN September 2008 8/5/08 11:57:12 AM www.applianceDESIGN.com http://www.ventronicsinc.com http://www.appliancedesign.com
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