Today's product designers are presented with a myriad of choices when
creating their work and preparing it for manufacture. They have to be
knowledgeable about a vast repertoire of processes, ranging from what
used to be known as traditional "crafts" to the latest technology, to
enable their designs to be manufactured effectively and efficiently.
Information on the internet about such processes is often unreliable,
and search engines do not usefully organize material for designers.
This fundamental new resource explores innovative production techniques
and materials that are having an impact on the design industry
worldwide. Organized into four easily referenced parts--Forming,
Cutting, Joining, and Finishing--over seventy manufacturing processes
are explained in depth with full technical descriptions; analyses of the
typical applications, design opportunities, and considerations each
process offers; and information on cost, speed, and environmental
impact. The accompanying step-by-step case studies look at a product or
component being manufactured at a leading international supplier.
A directory of more than fifty materials includes a detailed technical
profile, images of typical applications and finishes, and an overview of
each material's design characteristics. With some 1,200 color
photographs and technical illustrations, specially commissioned for this
book, this is the definitive reference for product designers, 3D
designers, engineers, and architects who need a convenient, highly
accessible, and practical reference.
