Approximately this much of the cost of product development and manufacture is determined at the design stage:

This allows the designer to conceptualize objects more easily without having to make costly illustrations, models, or prototypes:

Computer-aided manufacturing typically involves all phases of manufacturing.

Concurrent engineering involves all disciplines in the early design stages.

This is a solid shape that fits inside the mold and forms a hole in a cooled cast metal or molten plastic object:

This allows the performance of structures to be analyzed and tested efficiently, accurately, and quickly:

Direct shell production casting is used in directly creating molds for metal casting.

Solid ground curing systems are the most common rapid prototyping systems.

Selective laser sintering apparatus uses laser-hardened resins to form models.

Rapid prototyping costs about the same, but takes less time than traditional prototyping.

This type of rapid prototyping system uses a laser to fuse powdered metals, plastics, or ceramics:

In the design process for a product, it is not necessary that the designer know the functions and performance expected of that product.

Topographic shell fabrication is typically used to mold rapid prototypes of small-scale parts.

This process recognizes the inherent interrelationships between design and manufacturing:

Recycling or proper disposal of a product has become increasingly important to the design process.

Manufacturing generally does not add value.

Manufacturing may produce these types of products:

Tests of prototypes should simulate the conditions under which the product is to be used.

In net-shape manufacturing, the part is made as close to the final specifications as possible to cut down on the cost of finishing operations.

Using computer-aided engineering, designs can be optimized and modified.