Consultancy's radical new PCB print machine part

An Industrial Design Consultancy (IDC) product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Sep 29, 2000

A radical new closure for a range of pcb printing machines, developed by industrial design specialists IDC, uses a non traditional material and the latest processing technology

A radical new closure for a range of pcb printing machines, developed by industrial design specialists Industrial Design Consultancy (IDC), uses a non traditional material and the latest processing technology, to deliver important benefits to the manufacturer, as well as providing an attractive and functional appearance for the end user.

The new closure design for DEK Printing Machines in Weymouth, Dorset, recognises the increasing importance, at the OEM level, of synegising the appearance of groups of machines within a production area to achieve a unified image.

The IDC design not only achieves this objective, but also delivers substantial cost reductions as well as easing and speeding assembly time.

It also allows integration of other machine functions not possible with traditional metal machine closures.

The newly designed closure for the latest DEK Infinity and Horizon models helps to change the traditional perception of the look and style of this type of machine within a manufacturing area.

This is achieved with a sculptural shape using ABS and embracing the latest twin sheet, pressure forming technology which delivers parts that have the appearance of injection moulding components.

An important benefit is that the cost of thermoforming tools are comparatively inexpensive, thereby reducing cost and ABS thermoplastic is an ideal material for this type of teletronic application: it is lightweight, tough, resilient, with a good surface finish.

Furthermore, the moulding process allowed complex shapes to be created within the sculptured form which would have been difficult with sheet steel, clearly a much heavier alternative, or fibre glass, a much slower manufacturing process.

By double skinning the housing the required strength was achieved, weight reduced, assembly time cut and machine access for servicing was improved with panels opening in a gull wing movement.

Machine cooling was also enhanced - an important feature with machines working faster creating higher internal temperatures.

The new housing also contributes to reducing machine noise, an important Health and Safety at work consideration.

IDC worked closely with the design team at DEK producing initially a concept housing design and all the stages right through to the first prototype within just four months.

The reaction from the market to the new machine ranges has been very positive according to DEK with an increase in production enabling the company to leap-frog competition and break into a new customer base.

The latest DEK range has also received recognition with an important award from the Apex Exhibition in the United States.

The Vision Awards are presented annually by SMT Magazine in recognition of innovation in surface mount technology.

The award judged by an independent panel of distinguished experts from hundreds of global entries.

IDC has over 30 years experience of providing a range of services including styling, product design, engineering and innovation, through to model making, prototype development, manufacturing liaison and project management.

The company's objective is to design products to make you money.