Industrial Design for Injection Molding (Structure + DFM)
Engineering-driven product design for OEM buyers: structure design + DFM that makes your plastic parts toolable, moldable, and assembly-ready. Send CAD (STEP) for a fast DFM review and RFQ.
Buyer-friendly: clear deliverables, clear risk control, and a direct path to tooling + molding.
Manufacturable by Design
DFM-first decisions to reduce warpage, sink, and rework before tooling starts.
Backed by Tooling + Molding
Design team works with in-house manufacturing to keep feedback realistic.
Faster RFQ, Lower Risk
Clear deliverables and a direct path to sampling and production.
What “Industrial Design” Means at DTG
We focus on engineering-driven industrial design—structure design and DFM for injection molding. That means we help you optimize geometry so parts can be tooled, molded, and assembled consistently at scale.
Typical engineering topics we handle
- Draft & parting strategy to prevent scuffing and ensure clean ejection
- Wall thickness optimization to reduce sink marks and cycle time
- Ribs / bosses / snap-fits for strength and reliable assembly
- Tolerance and stack-up for functional fit and repeatability
- Tooling feasibility for undercuts, slides/lifters, inserts, and cost
Note: This page is not “styling/CMF”. If you need concept styling, we can discuss it—but DTG’s strength is design that goes into production.
Deliverables You Can Expect
We keep deliverables practical—built for tooling and production, not just presentation.
DFM Review Report
Risks and fixes: draft, walls, ribs, bosses, warpage, gate feasibility, and cost notes.
Manufacturing-Ready CAD
STEP/IGS updates aligned with tooling and assembly requirements.
Assembly & Tolerance Plan
Snap-fit strategy, screw design, welding options, and fit targets.
Workflow: From Design to Tooling to Production
A predictable path that procurement teams can plan around.
Requirements
Application, environment, target volume, finish, and critical dimensions.
DFM + Structure
Draft/walls/ribs/bosses/snap-fits and tooling feasibility.
Prototype
3D printing or prototype manufacturing to validate fit and function.
Tooling + Sampling
Mold build, T0/T1 trials, iterations, and approval loop.
Mass Production & Assembly
Stable injection molding + QC + optional post-processing/assembly and packaging.
Related capabilities: Plastic Injection Molding · Mold Manufacturing · Mold Design · Assembly & Decoration
Applications We Commonly Support
Bladeless Hair Dryer Housing
Airflow channel structure, warpage control, cosmetic finish, assembly alignment.
Link: Product Showcase (create a dedicated page later)
Smart Wristband Enclosure
Snap-fit strategy, sealing considerations, tolerance stack-up, overmolding readiness.
Link: Product Showcase (create a dedicated page later)
Handheld Ultrasonic Device Housing
Internal mounting features, assembly repeatability, and cosmetic requirements.
Link: Product Showcase (create a dedicated page later)
Send This for a Fast DFM Review
- 3D file: STEP/STP preferred (or IGS), plus 2D drawing if available
- Target quantity: prototype and production (annual volume if known)
- Material preference (or performance requirements if undecided)
- Critical dimensions / tolerances and functional requirements
- Surface finish: texture, gloss, painting, printing, etc.
- Target timeline and shipping destination
Helpful links: Materials Library · Case Studies · Equipment
FAQ
Do you provide “industrial design” without manufacturing?
DTG focuses on engineering-driven structure + DFM for injection molding. Most customers choose this service because they want a design that can be tooled and molded reliably. If you only need concept styling, we can discuss it—but our strength is taking designs into production.
Can you help if we already have CAD drawings?
Yes. Send STEP/STP + requirements and we provide DFM feedback, tooling feasibility notes, lead time, and a preliminary quotation.
What file formats do you accept?
STEP/STP is preferred. We also accept IGS/IGES, STL (reference), DWG/PDF for drawings, and photos of prototypes.
How do you reduce risk before tooling?
We combine DFM review, prototype validation (3D printing or prototype manufacturing), and an early tooling strategy to minimize rework and avoid late-stage surprises.
How early should we involve DFM in the project?
We recommend involving DFM as early as possible, ideally before tooling decisions are finalized.
Early DFM helps identify risks such as undercuts, insufficient draft, uneven wall thickness, or assembly conflicts—when changes are still low-cost.
How do you balance part performance, appearance, and manufacturability?
Our approach is to balance function, appearance, and manufacturability, not optimize one at the expense of others.
We clearly identify:
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Functional and load-bearing features
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Cosmetic or customer-facing surfaces
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Manufacturing constraints (tooling, draft, ejection, tolerance)
Trade-offs are explained with options, so you can make informed decisions based on performance, cost, and risk.
Can DFM help reduce tooling cost or cycle time?
Our approach is to balance function, appearance, and manufacturability, not optimize one at the expense of others.
We clearly identify:
-
Functional and load-bearing features
-
Cosmetic or customer-facing surfaces
-
Manufacturing constraints (tooling, draft, ejection, tolerance)
Trade-offs are explained with options, so you can make informed decisions based on performance, cost, and risk.
What happens if issues are found after DFM but before tooling?
If issues are identified during DFM, we address them before steel cutting and propose clear solutions.
Our team documents:
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Identified risks
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Recommended changes
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Impact on tooling, cost, or lead time
This ensures all parties are aligned before moving forward and helps prevent expensive changes during mold manufacturing or trial stages.
Is Industrial Design & DFM suitable for low-volume or pilot projects?
Yes. Industrial Design & DFM is valuable for both low-volume and high-volume projects.
For pilot or low-volume production, DFM helps:
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Avoid tooling mistakes
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Enable bridge or prototype tooling strategies
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Ensure smooth scale-up later without redesign
Many customers use DFM to validate designs first, then scale production confidently when volumes increase.