New DFMA 2006 Software Targets Cost Reduction

By DE Editors

DFMA 2006, the latest version of Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DFMA) software by Boothroyd Dewhurst, Inc.(Wakefield, RI) software contains upgrades of both modules in theintegrated DFMA suite: DFA Version 9.3, and DFM Concurrent CostingVersion 2.2.

According to a press release issued by the company, DFMA 2006 guidesengineers through the process of simplifying a product design, thenestimates assembly labor and part manufacturing costs. The softwareisolates the major cost drivers associated with a wide range of choicesfor part manufacture and finishing.

The software contains early cost models for material and manufacturingprocesses, including sheet metalworking, machining, structural foammolding, plastic extrusion, injection molding, thermoforming, blowmolding, cold and hot die casting, hot forging, powder metalprocessing, sand casting, and investment casting.

DFMA 2006 adds two new processes: estimating the cost to manufactureprinted circuit boards and comparing the cost of automatic versusmanual product assembly. The first is a printed circuit board processthat incorporates cost models for bare board manufacture as well aspopulation, or assembly, of the board. The cost estimate for bare boardmanufacture is based on complexity and includes costs for internal andexternal circuit generation, lamination, AOI testing, hole drilling,solder masking, legend printing, and final circuit testing. With thisnew software capability, product development teams can includeestimates for printed circuit boards in early cost profiles forelectromechanical devices. The second new process is an automaticassembly process that estimates the cost of assembling a product on anautomatic high-speed assembly machine. For comparison purposes, thesoftware also computes the estimated cost of assembling the sameproduct on a manual assembly line.

DFMA software operates in Microsoft Windows 98, Windows 2000, and Windows XP. For more information, visit dfma.com.

Sources: Press materials received from the company. Additional information gleaned from the company's website.