Design for Manufacturability
Watch a part come to life.
Every part H-O quotes goes through the same six-stage engineering sequence — application first, material second, tooling only after both are proven. Scroll, and watch one conductive-silicone EMI gasket go from operating envelope to supported production part. Drag the part to scrub time yourself.
MIL-DTL-83528 family · UL 94 V-0 · TDS-verified
1 of 700+ stocked compounds
Conductive silicone · conductive PSA · release liner
Tolerances rationalized to real converting capability.
Same-day when the die exists · 1,500+ dies in-house.
- dimensions
- compression set
- adhesion
- repeatability
01 / 06 · Evaluation
Stage 1 of 6
Evaluation — understand the application first.
Before anything gets cut, we work out what the part actually has to do: the enclosure it seals, the operating envelope, the intent behind the drawing. Geometry without context is how parts get rejected — so context comes first.
Stage 2 of 6
Material Identification — select for how the part performs.
The outline gains substance: a particle-filled conductive silicone chosen for shielding effectiveness, compression set, temperature, and flame rating — against the application, not just the print. Every recommendation is verified against its technical data sheet.
Stage 3 of 6
Manufacturing Review — make it manufacturable, and consistent.
The part splits open and the engineering shows: conductive silicone, conductive adhesive, release liner — sequenced, with tolerances rationalized to what converting equipment really holds. This is what makes part 10,000 compress and recover like part one.
Stage 4 of 6
Prototyping & Sampling — the part is born.
The shape is laser-cut from the actual sheet stock and released kiss-cut on its liner. Prototypes are production-representative — what you fit-check is what you will eventually buy, not an approximation of it.
Stage 5 of 6
Sample Production & First Article — prove repeatability.
First articles are measured, documented, and signed off before volume runs. Production starts from a proven part, not a hopeful one.
Stage 6 of 6
Lifecycle Support — the part keeps working. So does the supply.
Installed, compressed, in service — and still supported. Material availability is watched, obsolescence is managed, and production continues made-to-order for the life of the program.
Why this wins the part
Most converters quote the print. H-O engineers the part first.
Engineering before pricing
The DFM review is not a service tier — it is how every quote starts. Problems surface before tooling is cut, not after parts come back rejected.
One partner, three domains
Thermal, EMI, and NVH input on the same part, from one 700+ compound material estate — not three vendors trading tolerances against each other.
Speed without shortcuts
1,500+ dies in-house and same-day samples when the die already exists — and still no volume until the first article passes. ISO 9001:2015.
The next part is yours
This entire process is included with every quote.
Not an upcharge, not a program tier — it is simply how H-O quotes a part. Send a drawing, a STEP file, or a sketch of the envelope, and the evaluation starts.
Start a DFM review / request a quote
Prefer to talk it through first? Contact our engineering team.