Manufacturing Specification

Once you have completed your CAD modelling you ideally should create a Manufacturing Specification. 

A Manufacturing Specification is a bullet point list stating what every part of your final design would be made from (manufacturing) and justifying why - see an example of a couple of bullet points below:

• 5.1 Part 5 (the Base) should be made from a tough and durable plastic such as Polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is available in a variety of colours, and I can achieve a high quality, glossy finish. This part would be manufactured through 3D printing in the school workshop using either ABS or PLA and I will finish the part to replicate a Polycarbonate finish. etc. etc.

• 6.1 Part 6 (the Stand left side) should be made from a dark hardwood with a distinctive grain. The hardwood could be Iroko, Mahogany, Rosewood, Acacia or another Thai hardwood and it can achieve a high quality, smooth finish that will compliment the Base part made from Polycarbonate. This part would be manufactured in the school workshop using a working (Engineering) drawing from Onshape to accurately cut the hardwood to size. I will use a series of hand tools as well as a Power Fretsaw and files to get the correct shape. I will then finish this with Glass paper. 

Your Manufacturing Specification should also make reference to relevant quality control checks i.e. how will you check the part for accuracy; finish; size; quality etc. i.e. compare against the Working Drawing / Engineering drawing; Virtual testing in Onshape to check that parts do not collide; allowing tolerances for parts that fit together. Your Manufacturing Specification should have bullet points which are testable at the end of the project i.e. a smooth surface; a certain material etc.

You can then use this Manufacturing Specification in your Evaluation and Testing section to compare your final model against.

Example of a Manufacturing Speicifcation