Design for Manufacturing · Computer-Aided Design
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Calculators, DFM guides, and study material built by engineers who actually run parts. No ads. No tracking. Your data is never sold.
Engineering Calculators
Fraction Converter
Decimal or mm to imperial fraction — floor, ceiling, or closest — to any denominator from halves to thousandths. Exact-match detection included.
Tap Drill Finder
UNC, UNF, UNEF, and metric tap drill sizes with adjustable thread engagement. Nearest standard drill lookup — number, letter, fractional, and metric.
GD&T Bonus Tolerance
Bonus tolerance at MMC/LMC, virtual condition, resultant condition, and datum feature shift per ASME Y14.5. Fixed and floating fastener formulas for hole pattern design.
Bolt Torque & Preload
Torque-to-preload conversion using the K-factor (nut factor) method. Outputs clamp force, bolt stress as a percentage of proof load, and torque for common grades (SAE, metric) and coating conditions.
Press Fit / Interference Fit
Lamé equations for cylindrical interference fits. Contact pressure, hoop stress, safety factor, torque/force capacity, thermal assembly, and ASME B4.1 fit class lookup.
Tolerance Stackup
1D stackup with worst-case, RSS, and modified RSS. Sensitivity ranking and reverse-solve mode that proposes which tolerances to tighten.
Bend Allowance
Flat pattern length from K-factor, bend radius, material thickness, and bend angle. Returns bend allowance, bend deduction, and outside setback. Common material K-factor reference table included.
Snap Fit Design
Deflection, insertion force, and maximum strain for cantilever snap fits. Enter your own material properties — not locked to vendor resins. Tapered and constant-section beam cases. Annular snap fits use simplified approximations.
Beam Deflection
Max deflection, slope, and bending stress for standard load cases: cantilever, simply supported, and fixed-fixed. Handles point loads and UDL. Section properties calculated from dimensions for common cross-sections.
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GD&T & ASME Y14.5
All 14 geometric characteristics, datum reference frames, material condition modifiers, position tolerance, and GDTP exam prep.
SolidWorks Certifications
CSWA, CSWP, and CSWE study guides. Simulation Professional and Sheet Metal certification prep. Exam strategy and practice problems.
CNC Machining
Minimum wall thickness, internal corner radii, undercut rules, and achievable tolerances by operation type. Thread engagement and hole depth guidelines.
Sheet Metal
Minimum flange length, bend relief geometry, hole-to-edge spacing, and distortion control by material and gauge.
Injection Molding
Draft angle requirements, uniform wall guidance, rib-to-wall ratios to avoid sink marks, gate placement rules, and weld line management.
3D Printing
Process comparison across FDM, SLS, MJF, and SLA. Minimum feature sizes, support strategy, and material selection for functional parts.
SolidWorks Templates
ANSI and ISO drawing templates with pre-populated title blocks, custom properties, and revision tables. Part and assembly templates configured for common workflows. Free download.
DFM Cost Estimator
Rough-order-of-magnitude cost comparison across CNC, injection molding, sheet metal, and 3D printing. Break-even volume by process — useful before CAD exists.
GD&T Reference Card
All 14 ASME Y14.5 characteristic symbols with definitions, applicable modifiers, and real drawing examples. Downloadable as a print-ready PDF.