When a design engineer sits down to create a new part or assembly, the number of considerations to weigh can be dizzying. One aspect the designer may not be thinking about, however, is the manufactureability of that part or what it will cost to make. In fact, many engineers may have a limited understanding of the materials and manufacturing processes available. This holds especially true for those who have recently earned their engineering degrees, since engineering departments at many universities are eliminating skill-based manufacturing and material properties from their core curricula in favour of specialization.
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