Centrifuge Machine Enclosure Redesign

Design Challenges

Working within a fixed mechanical footprint:

The redesign could not touch the existing machine geometry or internal components. Every design decision had to interface cleanly with the existing structure without triggering mechanical rework. This constrained the design space from the start. Any concept that required changes to mounting points, internal dimensions, or component access paths was not viable.

Injection molding feasibility on a tight budget:

The budget ruled out expensive tooling approaches. The final design had to work with plain injection molding, applying design for manufacturing principles such as correct draft angles, appropriate wall thicknesses, and toolable geometry from the start. Any concept requiring complex tooling or multi-shot molding was off the table.

Achieving an automotive aesthetic within those constraints:

The client wanted something that looked like it belonged in a modern professional environment rather than a standard lab. Delivering that automotive quality — with sharp character lines, deliberate form breaks, and a sense of precision — while keeping the geometry simple enough for low-cost tooling, required careful design judgment at every stage.

Design Solutions

Ten concepts, one direction

The team started by sketching ten distinct design concepts, each exploring a different visual direction from minimalistic to sporty. This gave the client a wide range to respond to. Based on client feedback, three concepts moved forward for closer evaluation.

Dimensional capture and manufacturability study

The team worked from the existing assembly to capture precise dimensions and functional interface points. These details fed directly into manufacturability studies, ensuring the preferred concept could be built to fit the machine without modification.

3D print prototype to validate fit, form, and finish

The team modeled and 3D printed the top concept for physical evaluation. Having the prototype in hand accelerated client decision-making and surfaced additional detailing opportunities that were harder to judge from renders alone. The team added buffer lines and trim accents drawn from car design influences through this hands-on iteration stage.

Injection molding geometry refinement

The team refined the final geometry for mold production, addressing draft angles, ribbing, wall thickness, and snap-fit features. The final version met all tooling requirements for low-cost injection molding.