Environmental impact assessed in new DFMA software

A new release of Boothroyd Dewhurst Inc.’s (Wakefield, RI; ) Design for Manufacture & Assembly (DFMA) software offers designers the ability to assess the environmental impact of products with its new design-for-environment tools. In DFA version 9.4 and DFM Concurrent Costing version 2.3, users are guided through simplification of a product’s design, and the assembly labor and part manufacturing costs are quickly estimated. Major cost drivers associated with a wide range of part manufacture and finishing choices are identified, allowing designers to create parts that are more economical to manufacture.

With the new design-for-environment features, users can evaluate the impact of material selection during the concept stage, and can also account for the product’s end-of-life status. Designers can select materials they prefer to use or avoid from the DFMA database, and the proportions by weight of those materials in the product are revealed. Proportions of products that go to different end-of-life destinations are also identified, including reuse, recycling, landfill, and incineration.

This new release is said to be easy to customize, and users can install their own cost model for a manufacturing process into the DFM Concurrent Costing software. SolidWorks geometry information can be read directly, eliminating the need for third-party software.

“Manufacturers are increasingly aware that addressing the environmental impact of their products will soon be a requirement for entry into major markets,” says Winston Knight, senior VP of Boothroyd Dewhurst. “Designers can now select the best materials for greener products, even as they innovate with DFMA to build more performance into efficient, leaner designs.” —[email protected]