In the sheet metal design process, several steps are involved:

Customer Specifications: Our design team begins by reviewing the customer's drawings or design specifications. The level of detail and accuracy in these specifications determines the extent of our input.

Design Drawing: If necessary, our designers will create or revise a drawing based on the customer specifications. This helps the client visualize the final product and allows for any design amendments before manufacturing.

Design Recommendations: At this stage, CNCT's design team can provide recommendations on design alterations to enhance manufacturing efficiency and cost savings. We have expertise in optimizing designs to minimize material waste, streamline production processes, and increase overall product quality.

Prototyping: Once the design is finalized, a prototype is typically created to ensure that the product meets the required specifications and functions as intended. This allows for any necessary adjustments before moving forward with mass production.

Manufacturing: After the prototype is approved, the sheet metal components are manufactured following the finalized design. CNCT leverages the latest technology in CAD and machine programming to ensure precise and efficient manufacturing.

Throughout the entire process, CNCT's design team works closely with the customer, maintaining open communication channels for feedback and collaboration. By combining our expertise with the customer's requirements, we strive to deliver sheet metal products that achieve the highest levels of excellence and efficiency.​​​​​​​

In our design department, we primarily use SolidWorks software for creating, manipulating, and outputting 3D models of sheet metal components. This industry-leading CAD software allows our designers to accurately design and modify parts, as well as quickly present design changes to our customers for approval before manufacturing.

The CAD models created in SolidWorks are then exported in various formats, including DXF, STEP, and SAT. These formats are commonly used in the industry and allow for easy communication and collaboration between our team and the customer. This ensures that design modifications can be made efficiently and accurately before final sign-off.

By utilizing the latest version of SolidWorks and these industry-standard file formats, CNCT Manufacturing can provide our customers with cost and time savings, as well as the assurance that their sheet metal components will be manufactured to exact specifications.​​​​​​​

CNCT Manufacturing's designers are equipped to work with a range of file types to accommodate customer needs. Some of the most common file types that our designers can work with when receiving files from customers include:

STEP (.step, .stp): STEP files are widely used in various industries for exchanging 3D models. They contain geometric and assembly data and can be easily imported into most CAD software.

DXF (.dxf): DXF files are commonly used for 2D drawings and can be imported into CAD software for designing sheet metal components. They contain geometric information such as lines, arcs, and curves.

DWG (.dwg): DWG files are native to AutoCAD and contain 2D or 3D drawings. They are widely used in the engineering and construction industries.

IGES (.igs, .iges): IGES files are an earlier standard for exchanging 3D CAD data. They provide a neutral format for transferring geometric information between different CAD systems.

Parasolid (.x_t, .x_b): Parasolid files are commonly used for 3D solid modeling and are supported by a wide range of CAD software. They contain the geometric data of the 3D model.

Inventor (.ipt, .iam): Inventor files are native to Autodesk Inventor software. They contain 3D part or assembly data and can be imported into other CAD software.

Solid Edge (.par, .asm): Solid Edge files are native to Siemens Solid Edge software. They contain 3D part or assembly data and can be imported into other CAD software.

When outputting CAD models, our designers generally use formats such as:

SolidWorks (.sldprt, .sldasm): SolidWorks files are native to SolidWorks software and contain 3D part or assembly data.

IGES (.igs, .iges): IGES files can be used to export the CAD models in a neutral format that can be imported into various CAD software.

STEP (.step, .stp): STEP files are widely used for exporting 3D CAD models in a standardized format that can be imported into different CAD systems.

By supporting these file types, our designers can collaborate with customers seamlessly, ensuring smooth communication and efficient design processes.​​​​​​​

Value engineering is a systematic approach used by the design department in collaboration with the NPI and quality teams to re-engineer a new or existing product. The goal of value engineering is to maximize efficiency in the manufacturing process and identify cost-saving opportunities. This process typically involves the following steps:

Understanding the Product: The design team first needs to have a comprehensive understanding of the product and its intended purpose. This includes studying the existing design, its features, functions, materials used, and manufacturing processes involved.

Identifying Potential Improvements: Through brainstorming sessions and collaboration with the NPI and quality teams, the design department identifies areas for potential improvement. This can include opportunities to reduce material content, simplify processes, improve functionality, enhance performance, or address quality issues.

Analyzing Cost-Effectiveness: The team conducts a thorough cost analysis to evaluate the impact of proposed changes on manufacturing costs. This analysis considers factors such as material costs, labor costs, equipment costs, and assembly expenses. The goal is to identify changes that can lead to significant cost savings without compromising product quality or performance.

Prototyping and Testing: Once potential improvements are identified, the design team creates prototypes or performs simulations to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed changes. This helps in identifying any potential issues or challenges that need to be addressed before implementation.

Design Modification and Documentation: Based on the analysis and testing results, the design department proceeds with making necessary modifications to the product design. This may involve redesigning components, altering manufacturing processes, or sourcing alternative materials.

Collaboration and Approval: Throughout the value engineering process, close collaboration is maintained with the NPI and quality teams to ensure that the proposed changes align with the overall objectives of the project. Final sign-off and approval may be required from relevant stakeholders, including customers and management.

Implementation and Continuous Improvement: Once the design modifications are finalized and approved, the updated design is implemented for manufacturing. Continuous monitoring and feedback are essential to evaluate the impact of the value engineering process and identify further opportunities for improvement over time.

By implementing value engineering, CNCT Manufacturing aims to optimize the manufacturing process, reduce costs, enhance product quality, and improve overall customer satisfaction.​​​​​​​

Yes, the design team at CNCT Manufacturing can definitely recommend materials for a given project. They have in-depth knowledge of different materials, their properties, advantages, and disadvantages. Based on their expertise and understanding of the project requirements, they can suggest appropriate materials that would best suit the design and intended use of the product.

For example, if the goal is to reduce weight without compromising strength, the design team might recommend switching to a lighter material such as aluminum instead of steel. They can consider factors such as the required load-bearing capabilities, environmental conditions, cost considerations, and manufacturing processes to suggest the most suitable material.

Similarly, if a part of the product will be exposed to harsh outdoor conditions, the design team may suggest using a material with corrosion-resistant properties or recommend a specific protective coating or finish.

The design team's knowledge of various materials and their applications enables them to make informed recommendations that optimize product performance, durability, and cost-effectiveness. They can also provide guidance on material selection based on factors like cost, availability, recyclability, and sustainability.

By leveraging their expertise in material selection, the design team contributes to the overall success of the project by ensuring the product is designed with the most appropriate materials to meet functional, aesthetic, and performance requirements while considering cost and production efficiency.​​​​​​​