• Anytime you enter a product into mass-production, you have to make compromises on the form - and the function in marginal ways - of your design. some shapes cannot be machined by CNC systems, parts can get stuck in molds if you design overhangs in them, etc. There are always a collection of limitations for any given manufacturing method.

    This is a big reason why design flaws pop up on various products. worked great in the prototype, but tweaks ended up less effective to work on a factory line.

    You can even get forced into certain manufacturing methods due to your design needing to meet certain requirements for its function (being affordable, having to withstand extreme stress or temperature, etc.)