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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 - sta

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

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