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As someone that builds hardware all the time, your opinion is actually quite a common bias. The Idea that physical design (and aesthetics were important to S

As someone that builds hardware all the time, your opinion is actually quite a common bias. The Idea that physical design (and aesthetics were important to Steve Jobs) can somehow reliably define the final technical form-factor is naive, and often leads to impractical products or vaporware. Usually it is the common mistake that creates every camera that overheats, usb-c port that snaps off, or power adapter the size of a brick. Apple could have made the new iPad battery last another 2 hours, or make it 1.7mm thinner... They made it thinner, and provided less value to consumers in newer products. In general, one MUST transition through every stage of the TRL or are bound to repeat the process from the start again at some point. Part of design revisions is figuring out whats possible (including physical volume constraints) with current technology, and whats appropriate in the projected market. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology_readiness_level https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology_readiness_level Notably, the physical volume of a battery is a physics constraint, and most of the mass of your iPhone is the battery (Steves team miniaturized everything else to reach the form it ultimately became.) The battery type is a requirement set by the desired function of the hardware, and chips slowly optimize for a given role (hence the trend of things getting slightly smaller/more-efficient, but compared to the battery volume it is negligible.) Almost every business I've seen that prioritized the injection molded box first, has not survived to product launch. One could disagree with physics, but then again most engineers will simply abandon that project. =3

numpad0 2y ago
I don't mean to teach fish how to swim, but - what I meant to say is, just, packaging, enclosure design, weight distribution, durability, etc shouldn't be - starting enclosure design AFTER final PCBA ought to be wrong. I am, e.g. completely fine with cheap generic ready made enclosures[1][2][3] for low volume handhelds, and do understand that reality is reality, done is better than perfect, real designers ship, etc., I mean no offense to hardware rockstars either, and with that said, I really think I can say more higher priority to final form factor can be safely applied to projects like [4] and [5], despite obvious cliff between your and my qualifications. 1: https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/hand-held-enclosures/1981369 https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/hand-held-enclosures/1981369 2: https://www.takachi-enclosure.com/products/LC https://www.takachi-enclosure.com/products/LC 3: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006805827217.html https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006805827217.html 4: https://mikrophone.net/phone_big.png https://mikrophone.net/phone_big.png 5: https://mntre.com/media/reform_images/jacquelines-reform-open.jpg https://mntre.com/media/reform_images/jacquelines-reform-ope...
- Joel_Mckay 2y ago
  In general, most prototypes are initially designed as a massive sprawling 2D development mess (from satellites to cellphones they are all the same.) After the key functions are verified/validated, than the unneeded resources are refined/removed through the optimization process. Finally, the first physical PCB is reformed into whatever custom enclosure the marketer/designers defined. With the caveat that they understand the volumetric requirements for the device internals. Again, prior to dropping $60k on a plastic container mold, the design must first clear emissions pre-testing and certification documentation. There is a reason hardware startups fail at a rate >5 times higher than service companies (1:63 hardware startups live past 3 years). I would highly recommend taking a Design For Manufacturability course, or find a qualified Contract Manufacturer to handle the product gruesome details. Most products I see now are pad-printed store-branded generic products from China. Usually nothing wrong with that kind of import trade, but fundamentally this is not a product design process. Tip, no one is ever an expert with unknowns, but experience and standards help guide decisions on avoiding expensive mistakes... like handing your team an impossible assignment. Best of luck, and be kind to your engineers =3

numpad0 2y ago

I don't mean to teach fish how to swim, but - what I meant to say is, just, packaging, enclosure design, weight distribution, durability, etc shouldn't be - starting enclosure design AFTER final PCBA ought to be wrong. I am, e.g. completely fine with cheap generic ready made enclosures[1][2][3] for low volume handhelds, and do understand that reality is reality, done is better than perfect, real designers ship, etc., I mean no offense to hardware rockstars either, and with that said, I really think I can say more higher priority to final form factor can be safely applied to projects like [4] and [5], despite obvious cliff between your and my qualifications. 1: https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/hand-held-enclosures/1981369 https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/hand-held-enclosures/1981369 2: https://www.takachi-enclosure.com/products/LC https://www.takachi-enclosure.com/products/LC 3: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006805827217.html https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006805827217.html 4: https://mikrophone.net/phone_big.png https://mikrophone.net/phone_big.png 5: https://mntre.com/media/reform_images/jacquelines-reform-open.jpg https://mntre.com/media/reform_images/jacquelines-reform-ope...

Joel_Mckay 2y ago
In general, most prototypes are initially designed as a massive sprawling 2D development mess (from satellites to cellphones they are all the same.) After the key functions are verified/validated, than the unneeded resources are refined/removed through the optimization process. Finally, the first physical PCB is reformed into whatever custom enclosure the marketer/designers defined. With the caveat that they understand the volumetric requirements for the device internals. Again, prior to dropping $60k on a plastic container mold, the design must first clear emissions pre-testing and certification documentation. There is a reason hardware startups fail at a rate >5 times higher than service companies (1:63 hardware startups live past 3 years). I would highly recommend taking a Design For Manufacturability course, or find a qualified Contract Manufacturer to handle the product gruesome details. Most products I see now are pad-printed store-branded generic products from China. Usually nothing wrong with that kind of import trade, but fundamentally this is not a product design process. Tip, no one is ever an expert with unknowns, but experience and standards help guide decisions on avoiding expensive mistakes... like handing your team an impossible assignment. Best of luck, and be kind to your engineers =3