When you're spec-ing in parts, you need to know details
By Diane Lau, Marketing Communication Specialist, J.W.Winco
There's no such thing as a Super-Engineer who has all the answers and never needs to turn to other resources when designing a machine. Truly, you can't have enough helpful resources, and successful engineers are those who know where to turn for advice and assistance.
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Well, at J.W. Winco, we've always suggested to our customers that they put us on that list of resources. Good component suppliers can help with the design process in all kinds of ways:
Complete Technical Data
When you're spec-ing in parts, you need to know details. What's the temperature resistance of that knob? The torque rating of that lever? The spring load of that plunger?
Your supplier should provide such information in their printed catalog and on their website to save you time and even prompt you to consider the requirements of the application.
Many years ago, we renamed our catalog our "Engineering Manual," and that's how we think of it and our website.
We make a point of anticipating what engineers will need to know about our parts, including detailed line drawings, complete dimensions, thorough specs, application examples, alternate options, ISO certification and RoHS compliance.
We also have a technical section with handy info on tolerances, threads, material properties, etc. Check out what kind of data is provided by your suppliers, and you may find they offer a treasure trove of information.
Technical Expertise
Sometimes your problem goes beyond the obvious specs.
If you're in a quandary, contact your supplier for advice and aid. Technical sales associates direct customers to products that could be a good fit, or in the case of a truly unusual application, offer an original solution.
They can get detailed answers about materials or performance that are critical for you to know, or advise you on your most economical option.
Why struggle to research issues when the answers can be provided quickly by your supplier?
Design/Development Assistance
Your supplier may well, like our company, offer actual design assistance. That is, you can provide a drawing or CAD model and the supplier will work on ways their components can be integrated into your machine, or how special adaptations might be made to solve your problem.
 An original component--this retractable hand crank--was developed to solve a customer's design problem. |
We once assisted in the design of a machine that required a crank handle that could completely fold away — and there was no such standard item in existence. The solution we created is our WRHC retractable hand crank, and it was the perfect answer.
CAD Models
Obviously there are few better ways your supplier can facilitate the design process than by offering CAD models of its product line. Winco initiated this a few years back, and although maintaining all those different formats of CAD for over 18,000 parts is a challenge, it's makes a difference for our customers.
A survey we conducted in 2008 proved to us that CAD models, offered for free download in a fast, user-friendly way, are a tremendous boon to engineers. It's a trend most suppliers are following, so avail yourself of the benefits as often as you can.
Machining & Finishing Capabilities
Some suppliers are strictly "catalog houses," but others offer machining services. Maybe you've found the perfect component, but it needs a square bore rather than round.
Or perhaps a simple mechanical adaptation to an existing part would make all the difference. Consult with your supplier to see if they will work with you to provide a custom solution to your design challenge.
Case in point: One of our customers produces equipment for mounting keyboards and computer monitors in vehicles, using a WN 300 plastic adjustable lever manufactured by J.W. Winco to adjust and clamp.
 A special version of an adjustable lever improved on the design of an adjustable keyboard tray. |
In this application, the customer was using a spacer bushing over a carriage bolt between the lever and the body of the piece--a bushing that was the wrong size and finish to achieve integrated appearance and function. We suggested we could instead manufacture the lever with a special extension piece integrated in. This eliminated parts and gave the finished equipment a better appearance.
Simplify & Expedite The Prototyping Process With E-commerce
More and more parts suppliers offer online shopping by credit card. We find this is really helpful to engineers who, in the prototype stage, may be authorized to bypass purchasing to acquire sample parts quickly.
An engineer can find the needed part, and with a few clicks and a credit card, get it on the way. The e-store feature also allows engineers to view standard pricing online, to get an idea of potential cost.
Find Suppliers Who Focus On Engineers
There are suppliers who recognize the key to their ongoing success is maintaining good relationships with design engineers. Rather than simply selling components, we make a point of being useful to our customers in every way we can. We recognize that...wait for it...we are more than the sum of our parts.
With this in mind, this year our company took a new step in our quest to be useful to engineers, and launched our blog at www.jwwinco.blogspot.com.
It's just another way we're working to establish rewarding relationships with the folks we like best: engineers like you. I and my fellow associates hope to make the blog a source of information, problem-solving, and some fun, too.
So why not take full advantage of what component suppliers have to offer in terms of tools, information, expertise, design assistance and machining capabilities? In your determination to be the Super Engineer, you might find a good sidekick in your supplier.
Read more from Diane Lau, Marketing Communications Specialist at www.jwwinco.blogspot.com