Design process supported with strategies for selecting materials and processes.

Abstract

The creation and development of products through the discipline of industrial design, requires the application of a Proyectual Design Methodology, it show the steps to set up a new product. Traditional design methodologies provide a number of tools to experience different formal and functional alternatives through conceptual and graphic expression. Through these tools it is possible to achieve innovative design proposals formally in order to solve the problem posed at the beginning of the project. These methodologies also offer tools for ergonomic and functional testing of products designed to evaluate the behavior of potential users through usability testing with functional models. However, taking into account the schedules and project budgets, these functional models, not always made in the projected for the end product materials, which can present limitations to the results of ergonomic checks, and the real appreciation of product by users. An alternative to using the most appropriate materials at all stages of a design project is to use a methodology for the selection of materials and processes, which was developed by Dr Mike Ashby at Cambridge University. This methodology allows to visualize and plan the most suitable to produce the product materials and manufacturing processes, from the very beginning of the project through all its stages. This methodology provides a taxonomy classification of materials and processes, in order to know all the families and classes of materials and processes. To support this knowledge, letters of properties of materials are used, which allow graphically select the most appropriate materials to produce the product according to its properties. This methodology provides a design process, which can be coupled to traditional methodologies, analyzing materials and processes in each stage of the project. Finally a strategy for the selection of materials and a strategy for the selection of processes is offered. Thus, at the end of the design project it has a new product, which can justify the selection of materials and manufacturing processes, according to the study of the properties of the product.