DESIGN PROCESS
IDEA OR PROBLEM ARISES?
Have you come across an idea or problem that you would like to develop or fix? Great.
Let's looks into how this is carried out by Elephant Design Engineering.
RESEARCH + DEVELOPMENT
Elephant Design Engineering looks at all concepts you have, photographs, sketches and ideas and then researches what is currently available on the market. Competitor products are analysed and the development process occurs.
CONCEPT GENERATION
Concept generation can start as hand sketches right through to very basic block models in CAD. At this stage of design the form, features and some of the functions will be explored. Its important to generate as many ideas as possible to ensure that as the product is refined further on in the design process, it only takes the best attributes of all concepts.
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
From the previous step, a blend of the most functional top 3 designs are carefully selected. These top 3 ideas are then 3D modelled in CAD to allow for a realistic image of the final product using renders, allowing the customer to see the final outcome. At this point, EDE liaises closely with the customer to ensure the design selected is optimal.
DETAILED DESIGN + DESIGN FOR MANUFACTURE
With the chosen concept, further development and detailing is carried out. This stage of design will have the concept fully drawn in CAD with details down to the bolts and washers required, manufacturing tolerances, required part finishes and colour. Further to this, simulations of moving parts can be tested, products pushed to failure and optimised through finite element analysis (FEA) and all technical drawings are generated.
PROTOTYPING
The problem/idea you were facing at the beginning of this design process can now be brought to life. With the technical documentation generated prior to this step, the latest in manufacturing equipment will cut, fold, machine, assemble, paint and complete your product.
Having a product in front of you is a great way to test and validate all of the prior assumptions, and allow for demonstration on how it will carry out its functions.
​
PRODUCTION PACKAGE
After testing and validation of the prototype all the knowledge and learning need to be re-documented and revisions made to drawings. This package now becomes a complete production package and manufacturing can occur.
INSTALLATION / HANDOVER
The product can now be installed into its final place and maintained or handed over to the customer, this marks completion of the design process for Elephant Design Engineering.