How to reduce the cost of plastic enclosure through DFM (Design for Manufacturing)

Plastic enclosures add up quickly in cost if your design isn't approached correctly. At Hongfa Shunda, we discovered how you design a plastic part could make all the difference, in the cost of materials and in how easy it would be to build. The more complicated the shape, or the thicker the walls, the more it will cost to make one, and the longer it will take. But by planning ahead and designing smartly, the enclosure can be made cheaper without sacrificing quality. This saves companies money and gets their products to them faster. Let me tell you a little more about how to do this correctly, and where to purchase good materials without having to spend too much money

What Are Best DFM Practices to Bring Down the Plastic Enclosure Manufacturing Costs

Design for Manufacturing (DFM) is about designing a product that’s simple and inexpensive to produce. For plastic casings, this involves considering how the parts will be made by machines, how the plastic flows and how the pieces snap together. One big tip is don’t do very sharp corners or no sudden changes in thickness. Sharp corners may result in weak spots or make it difficult to fill the mold with plastic. Smooth, rounded edges make for better flow of the plastic and lower odds of cracking. It saves plastic and can help guards against warping, besides keeping wall thickness uniform. When some sections are stewpot-thick and others wispy, the thickness in one place means slower cooling that can lead to dents or bubbles. We at Hongfa Shunda always attended to these details early in the design process

Another technique is to shape the panel so that it may be molded in a single piece where feasible. When components snap together or require additional screws, it takes time and adds cost. Other times, we want to use clips or actual simple joints that don’t require any extra hardware. This lowers assembly costs. Draft angles, gentle tapers on the walls, as it were, make the part easier to pull from the mold without breaking. With draft Resistance: Parts may stick and delay, increasing cost

Sometimes, it even helps to make the design modular. Relate it not as one big complex piece, but smaller fitted pieces, this can lend itself to less complexity in the mold. But this is effective only if the assemblage process is simple and time-efficient. We at Hongfa Shunda place high regard to this equilibrium. We discovered this the hard way on many projects where we thought design X looked good but was costly in materials to achieve

Where to Get Inexpensive Stuff for High-Quality Plastic Enclosures Wholesale

Good plastic material at the right price is hard to find but important.” And the type of plastic matters a lot. There are plastics that cost more but offer greater strength or heat resistance, and there are those that cost less but are weaker. Hongfa Shunda typically uses materials that offer a good ratio of cost- to quality. For instance, ABS plastic is popular for its strength and low cost. Polycarbonate is stronger but pricier. Understanding what the enclosure actually requires points toward the proper material

Purchasing materials in bulk is another cost-saving option. Physical fitness tends to be priced down with more volume. Whereas if you place small orders with lots of suppliers, the cost per kilogram can be a lot higher. That’s one reason Hongfa Shunda maintains good relationships with reliable plastic suppliers that provide deals on large orders. It helps to keep the whole project on budget when the quality is consistent, and you’re getting a good price

In addition, plastics that have been recycled can sometimes be used without any loss of quality. At Hongfa Shunda, we have tried recycled materials for some projects and they work well if chosen carefully. Reusing plastic could save money and the planet. But that recycled plastic must be clean and processed properly or else the end product may have blemishes

Local suppliers are sometimes cheaper due to the lower shipping cost. We search for factories nearby to save on freight and delays. It also keeps the project flowing smoothly

It can also be wise to mix different materials for elements of the enclosure. For instance, utilizing a less expensive plastic for the base and more durable plastic for the cover can cut costs while maintaining durability in crucial areas

Considering all of this, sourcing materials wisely matters as much as intelligent design. We do both at Hongfa shunda, offering our clients the best of both worlds

What is the Effect of Design for Manufacturing on Wholesale Plastic Enclosure Pricing

Design for Manufacturing, or DFM, is a method to plan and create products so that they are easier, read: cheaper, to manufacture. When it comes to plastic enclosures (the hard cases that protect electronic devices), DFM also plays a major part in cost reduction. The staff of Hongfa Shunda are aware that good design from the beginning can save a lot money when start to produce it. However, say a cheap plastic cover is designed with straight lines, no undercuts and also fewer components then, this product requires less time and labor assistance in manufacturing cycle. That means machines consume less energy, and workers spend less time assembling pieces. Plus, when designs are free from intricate details there is less chance of a mistake and therefore fewer mistakes, meaning less waste. The less waste material, the lower the cost. Another aspect of DFM is selecting the right type of plastic and thickness. In the case of plastic that is too thick, it becomes more expensive and takes longer to cool when molding. If it’s too thin, the enclosure could break or not function as well. Striking that balance is essential to keeping prices down without sacrificing quality. Here at Hongfa Shunda, we use DFM to ensure that our plastic enclosures are made to be strong, easy to make and cheap. This is how retailers are assured of demand and wholesale buyers get better prices, ­because the entire process is streamlined and efficient. In other words, DFM is planning a trip with the best route possible and will help companies save money and get good products to market faster. When it comes to wholesale plastic enclosures, this kind of deliberate design thinking is what makes low prices possible without having to cut corners on quality

How can ODM and OEM wholesale purchasers take advantage of Advanced DFM in Plastic Enclosure Manufacturing

When wholesale purchasers purchase a lot of plastic enclosures all at once, they are looking for the best combination of price and quality. Advanced Design for Manufacturing (DFM) contributes to this by enhancing how we manufacture enclosures. In Hongfa Shunda, we adopt up-to-date DFM techniques to assist wholesalers in receiving higher cost performance. One major advantage is reduced production times. Enclosures that have been DFM’d are not only more moldable but also easier to assemble. This allows factories to create more products in the same amount of time. Faster production is better for the wholesale buyers because they will receive their orders sooner and can pass their merchandise along to consumers. Another advantage is reduced difficulties during production. DFM allows users to detect design problems and correct them before they have the molds made or begin mass production. This eliminates delays and additional expenses from correcting errors. Wholesale buyers can relax without fear of getting back bad parts, or waiting for replacements. Plus, advanced DFM can lower shipping costs. In designing lighter or more-efficiently-packable enclosures, companies save on transportation. These savings can be conveyed to wholesale buyers in the form of reduced prices. And in addition DFM likes enclosures that are easy to modify. Most wholesale buyers want different sizes or features. With smart design it is also less expensive and simpler to change the enclosure without going back to square one. Such flexibility can allow buyers to serve their customers’ needs better without shelling out a lot more cash. At Hongfa Shunda we specialize in providing wholesale buyers these benefits through state of the art DFM. We make the entire process of customizing this product easier and in turn, help you to get high quality plastic enclosures at a cost that is competitive. That's why wholesale buyers can confidently take their business to the next level, with a supplier that respects good design and is here to help

What are the Most Common Hurdles in Plastic Enclosure Design That Impact Wholesale Prices

Plastic Switch Boxes are Not Always Easy to Design. There are many potential pitfalls that can inflame the final cost, particularly when producing for a wholesale market. At Hongfa Shunda, we're all too familiar with these challenges and are always striving to resolve them by applying sound Design for Manufacturing (DFM) principles. A popular dilemma has been how to get the strength versus weight trade-off right. Every device in a plastic shell needs to be strong enough not to break, which means they are usually bulky. But if the enclosure is too heavy or thick, it’s more expensive to manufacture and ship. It’s a delicate balance that requires careful design and testing. Yet another difficulty in this approach is the capability to stay away from convoluted shapes. Small parts and sharp corners are difficult to mold, so complex designs take more time. This adds expense and can produce defects. Now we use DFM to optimize shapes but also keep the enclosure functional and eye-pleasing. Molding time, cooling in the mold is also significant factor. It can lead to warpage or cracks if there’s uneven cooling depending on how the design is. This leads to more waste and additional expenses. Hongfa Shunda is committed to developing enclosures that cool uniformly, keep defects at a minimum and always end up in the black. Tooling and molds costs can be significant, particularly for new designs or low-volume orders. Mold Mark LEGO style plastic cases demands accuracy and can be costly to create molds for the enclosures. DFM also can help by designing parts that can fit into existing molds, or need less-complex mold shapes, which means lower upfront costs. Finally, requests for customization can multiply costs. Wholesale buyers typically have different color preferences, sizes or features that they desire. Without careful design planning, those changes can slow production and push up prices. DFM would also require that designs be changeable at little cost. In conclusion, a lot of design hurdles can hit the price for plastic enclosures wholesale. That’s why, at Hongfa Shunda, we leverage DFM to address these issues upfront and provide solutions that minimize both time and expenses. In this manner, wholesalers are able to offer better priced and higher quality enclosures that help their business grow