Designing Plastic Parts for Assembly

Designing Plastic Parts for Assembly, 10th Edition, written by Paul Tres, presents engineering principles for material selection, structural evaluation, and joint integration in polymeric component design. The textbook addresses both novices to the field and seasoned part designers who need analytical tools for physical assembly decisions.

The volume structures its technical content around two primary engineering phases. The foundational sequence examines material behavior, safety factors, strength of materials, and nonlinear considerations. Building upon these physical principles, the text explores specific connection methods, detailing press fitting, living hinges, snap fitting, adhesive bonding, threaded fasteners, and in-mold assembly operations.

A primary update in this edition is the extensive revision of the chapter on welding techniques for plastics, which now includes a dedicated subchapter on hot gas welding. This structured progression helps engineers analyze mechanical stress, select suitable manufacturing techniques, and choose effective joining mechanisms for production requirements.