3di Consulting Ltd - Product Design Development

The concept design stage is most important of any product design process.  The concept development sets the 'the vision'. We generate various concept ideas using our clients brief.

We explore form, function, colour and ergonomic interaction initially and create a large amount of ideas to instantly evaluate against one another.

We offer two elements within the concept design phase. These include: providing our clients with an array of options and idea and helping the client further explore certain elements of various designs. These elements lead to the basis of the finished product.

From the onset of a project we allocate a lot of time to  listen to our clients' product aspirations and 'vision'.

We evaluate and test all product ideas and visions thoroughly. This ensures successful product development.

We place innovation at the heart of all our product development process. We aim to challenge design boundaries and traditional thinking.  

At 3di we can produce product visuals or 3D renderings of your product design using the latest software. We can allow our customers to we can visualise their idea in use and in a variety of materials, colours and graphics.

We offer product visuals at the end of the concept stage, at the end of development and at the Production CAD stage. This ensures that our customers ideas are realised. We have the latest technology to produce excellent product visuals.

we can produce standard fully accurate 3D IGES files once the component design is approved by the customer. These are ready to be used directly in the manufacture of the mould tool or component.

We have the technology to produce accurate 3D CAD designs in a variety of formats. The format is down to customer specification and can include: all manufacturing detailing, mould draft, split lines, gate and ejector positions.

Using the CAD files we have produced we can create a range of rapid prototype techniques.

We can create small accurate form and function representation models using our in-house 3D colour printer.  

3D printing uses standard inkjet printing technology and once printed the model removed for infiltration, hardening and finishing. Prototype models can left ‘organic’ (hardened but not sprayed)  or can be professionally sprayed and hand finished to replicate the look and feel of plastic parts.  

Finite Element Analysis (FEA) can be used for new product design or existing product refinement. It is a computer based simulation which estimates the stresses, strains and displacements of a component under specific loading.

Finite Element Analysis must be carried out in controlled environments to ensure accurate results. The product is assigned specific material properties and set up under the specific loading conditions. Getting the set up right is important as it can hugely vary the results and therefore, the conclusions inaccurate.

Evaluating the most appropriate and manufacturing processes , material, surface finish and supplier are essentially to guarantee the success of a product.

Once the production CAD has been created we can assist you further into the tooling & production process or, if you are experienced in the process we can just supply the data and drawings required.

AWe can produce detailed 2D drawings either to scaled or to full size. These detailed drawings provide critical information for manufacture, including dimensions, material selection, finishes and tolerances.

Many manufacturers prefer tend to use 3D IGES CAD files, however there are still a few manufactures who prefer these 2D CAD drawings.