What’s a parts kit?

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A parts kit is a collection of engineered parts that can be combined for a variety of configurations to create a family of related objects that all work together. This approach can be used in manufacturing, industrial design, architecture, software development, and a variety of other fields. It is based on the use of standardized systems for component engineering and manufacturing, to create objects that can be easily assembled, disassembled, extended and reconfigured to meet changing needs, much like an educational engineering kit for children.

In the kit-of-parts approach, designers use standardized connections and other features to create parts that can fit anywhere else in the system in a simple and logical way. The design drawings and specifications are also standardized, using the same systems of measurement, the same scale for drawings, and so on. Companies can build a large library of parts and divide a factory into logical sectors to produce different parts within the same family.

Design specs can allow makers to develop a blueprint for a new product or improvements to an existing one, so the right parts can be ordered and assembled. The finished product can be disassembled if necessary for moving to another location or for retrofitting. Using a parts kit also allows for extensions and modifications to make components more usable. For example, if a science lab is being built using a kit of parts and someone wants to add another office space, it can be easily installed using compatible parts, with minimal disruption to the rest of the facility.

This method allows for the design of individual components within a larger object, as well as families of objects that fit together. A company that designs modular homes could use a kit-of-parts approach to handle not only the construction of the homes, with endless configurations to allow homeowners to create custom products, but also the internal systems. Heating, cooling, plumbing, and other systems can all be built from custom parts and are easy to modify as needed if the overall design changes.

Kit-of-parts design specialists work with computer-aided design (CAD) and related tools to create clear and understandable standards to implement in part design and manufacturing. Their standardized part designs can be uploaded to a central database for use by other engineers and designers. Designers can check the parts library to see if there are components available that meet the needs of a design. If not, they can familiarize themselves with the standards to design a new part that will not only serve the needs of the project but also expand the parts library.

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