Ever spend hours crafting a design, only to find a tiny detail missing later? We've all been there. That's why a pre-flight check, or design review checklist, is your best friend. Think of it as a mission control for your drawings, ensuring a smooth launch into manufacturing.

This checklist is your co-pilot, guiding you through key areas to ensure your design meets all specifications. Let's take a flight through the essential checks for both parts and assemblies:

Drawing Checklist

Part Drawing

• Specify cavity no. location (if applicable)

• Specify date stamp location (if applicable)

• Check draft angles for moulding and casting components

• Complete Drawing Template

• Correct Material

• Correct Title [include product descriptions, etc…]

• Date drawn

• Correct Sheet Scale displayed

• Latest updated details as “drawn by” and “designed by”

• Make sure all drawings are in 3rd angle projection

• Check Revision Block

• Tapped holes shown including tapping detail and tapping depth

• Critical dimensions shown as specified by designer/engineer

• Company logo on at least one visible part in the assembly

• Cavity Numbers and Logo needs to state if detail is to be raised or sunken.

• Correct Material to state its "grade" or "alloy”.

• Revision Block to state past and present info (e.g. what dimension was and what is now).

Assembly Drawing

• Check BOM and ensure numbers matches with BALLON Annotations

• Specify Grease grade, quantity of grease and surface required

• Specify Loctite grade, quantity and location

• Title includes product no. and applicable project numbers

• In BOM include kitting information if it is supplied in pack.

• Packaging details specified

• If a "Newton Metre" or "Torque" requirement is needed, this should be shown on the assembly drawing.

Drafting Checklist

Things to Consider

• All units are assumed to be mm.

• Dimension lines should never cross other dimension lines.

• Dimension lines should avoid crossing extension lines.

• Extension lines may cross each other.

  1. Longer dimensions should be placed further to the outside. (to avoid crossing).

• Try to avoid long extension lines.

• Dimensions should not be duplicated, or the same information given in two different ways, and no dimensions should be given except those needed to produce or inspect the part.

• Dimensions should be placed in the views where the features dimensioned are shown in true shape. This may require auxiliary views. (i.e. Dimension only to true lengths).

• Notes should always be lettered horizontally on the drawing.

• Make sure drawings are checked.

Tips

• Create dimensions from datum point, like bearing, dowel holes or center line instead of curved surfaces.

• Spreading out views on sheet is cleaner than squeezing in.o Specify Geometric Tolerances on sheet metal and machined parts as required.

• A dimension should be attached to only one view: extension lines should not connect two views.

• Notes should always be lettered horizontally on the drawing.o Avoid dimensioning to hidden lines.

• Avoid a complete chain of detail dimensions; better to omit one. 

• Otherwise, add REF (reference) of brackets to one detail dimension, or to the overall dimension. This allows tolerances to determine the omitted dimension.

• Dimension lines should be spaced uniformly throughout the drawing. Approx. 10mm from the object, and 6mm apart.

• Dimension figures should be approximately centred between the arrowheads if possible.o No dimensions unless absolutely necessary.

• No hidden detail unless absolutely necessary.

• Keep number of views (projections) to a minimum. 

• Three views are normal, the maximum (6 views) are extremely rare.

• Add centre lines and cross-hairs to holes.

By following this checklist and these pro tips, your designs will be ready to soar! Remember, a little pre-flight prep can save you a lot of time and frustration down the runway. So, fire up your design software and prepare for a successful launch!