The process of tool design

The tool design process involves several steps, including identifying the need for a tool, researching existing solutions, developing specifications for the tool, creating a prototype, testing the prototype, and refining the design based on feedback. This process can involve collaboration between different teams, such as engineers, designers, and users. The goal of the tool design process is to create a tool that effectively meets the identified need and is easy and intuitive to use. To carry out these responsibilities, tool designers have expertise in shop practices, tool-making procedures, machine tool design, and manufacturing as well as more conventional skills. The tool designers’ main objective is to improve productivity while maintaining quality and lowering costs. 

Each design process and tool design itself must be created with shared objectives in mind. No matter how well a tool functions, if it costs more to make than it saves in production, the main objective has not been met. Here are the main objectives involved in tool design.

The tool design process consists of five basic steps which include statement and analysis, analysis of the requirements, development of initial ideas, development of possible design alternatives, and finalisation of design ideas. While these five steps are referred to as different tasks, each overlaps the others during the process. Like many other aspects of manufacturing, tool design is an ongoing process of creative problem-solving.

The first step when designing any tool is to define the problem or objective that needs to be solved or met in the toolmaking process. This may be an assessment of what the tool is expected to do or could be an issue encountered in production where tooling may be beneficial. Once the extent of the problem has been discussed and finalised, decisions can be made by following the remaining steps.

After the primary problem has been identified, the requirements, including function, production, quality, cost, finishing date, and other specifics can be used to determine the parameters within which the designer must work.

Common requirements include:

Initial design ideas are usually discussed and finalised after research and data have been carried out. This data consists of the part print, process sheet, engineering notes, production schedules, and other related information. While evaluating these results, the designer will then take notes to ensure they have everything they need and have each specific detail before the design process begins. In many cases, the designer and planner work together to develop the initial design parameters.

Ideas are discussed, noted down and developed within a team during the initial concept phase of tool design. These ideas will vary and offer many options in regard to the final production and design idea. All design alternatives will be stored and saved for potential future use. All design alternatives will be planned based on features such as function, production requirements, quality, cost and due date. 

Once the initial design ideas and alternatives have been decided, each element will then be analysed by the designers who will proceed with the most efficient and successful final tool design. The tool designer or designers must evaluate the strong points of each idea discussed and weigh them against each other to come up with the best possible outcome. The best design is typically a compromise between the basic criteria of function, production requirements, quality, cost, due date, and other requirements. The final design will then be created through high-tech systems, typically CAD and CAM software in which most manufacturers will also produce a 3D model. This technology is beneficial for both the designer and the customer as it presents detail, accuracy and a realistic outcome.

Pro-Moulds will work with you to make sure your initial tool design and thought process can come to life, creating both simple and detailed briefs to get the ball rolling! We work by your side through the whole toolmaking process, taking you from the initial phone call all the way to the final product.

Please contact us on 01623 904 417 to get your design journey started!