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- Welds should be easily accessible: welding out of position is difficult and welding in tight corner is sometimes impossible.
- Aluminum is far more difficult to weld than steel
- Welding can distort the geometry of your part
Design for Assembly and Installation
Consider how the final product will be assembled:
- If you have bolts, make sure there is room to fit a wrench or socket on the bolt head and nut.
- Think about how all of your parts are connected together. A good way to do this is write a brief "installation manual" on how everything would fit together, and the order that they would be installed
- Think about the final placement of the part. Does it need to be attached to the ground? If so, do you have an attachment point (ie. floor anchors)? How will it be moved to it's final location?
Design for Repair and Maintenance
- Consider the consumables and limited life components. Try to place these in areas that are easily accessible for anyone who has to repair your part in the future. If this isn't possible (for example, some grease points), try to find another suitable part (oil impregnated bearings) or alternative method (grease lines or automatic greaser)
Design for Shipping
During shipping, parts will experience extreme temperatures and unexpected loads. Also consider the size of your part, and what can be assembled at the final destination.
Fits
Press Fits
A good rule of thumb for a press fit diametral interference is 1/1000th of the diameter you are trying to fit. So if you have 10mm shaft,
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