Design for Manufacturing (DFM)
Design for Manufacturing (DFM) is the analysis of a part design for its suitability to being injection molded. At Forum Plastics, we use DFM to:
- Ensure molded part quality
- Select the correct tool type
- Minimize investment cost
- Identify locations for injection gates and parting lines
- Analyze for good plastic part design practices
Forum performs a molding and/or manufacturing analysis on every tooling project that we receive for quotation. Upon receiving a quote request containing an appropriate 3D design file, part drawing, and material requirements, we perform an initial DFM analysis before providing a formal quotation. Once in alignment with the request, we provide you with a formal quotation for the tooling, validation, and item-level pricing.
Components Of A DFM
With nearly 30 years of mold tool design and manufacturing experience, Forum Plastics offers a comprehensive DFM approach. Our typical DFM covers:
- Injection gate location(s) and type
- Part geometry contained in A and B halves of the tool
- Slides, cores, or special tool action
- Call out all parting lines and witness lines
- Ejection locations
- Thin and thick sections of plastic that may cause sink marks, voids, or fill problems
- Recommended draft
- Surface finish
- Tool class and runner type
- Shot size to barrel capacity percentage
- Mold flow analysis as required
DFM Example