A DFM review for a robot before the first production run
Anvol does it as part of taking a prototype to its first batch: our engineers check parts and BOM alternatives, board assembly, the enclosure process and test fixtures, build a first article on the partner line and fix what it shows before any batch. A quick feasibility check is free; a detailed engineering review is scoped and quoted on its own.
Updated
What we check
- Parts and BOM
- Every part sourced and checked, including older and hard-to-find chips; BOM cleanup with approved alternative parts.
- Boards
- Board type, layer count and assembly type matched to a partner line that runs that process; hand assembly or PCBA chosen per board and quantity.
- Enclosure and structure
- Which process fits the quantity: 3D printing while the design moves, CNC for metal and precise parts, vacuum casting for small runs, injection molds when the volume pays for them.
- Assembly
- Inserts, bonding, cable harnesses and connectors, and the order parts go in.
- Test
- How each unit is tested and recorded, and whether the run needs a test fixture.
- First article
- One unit built on the line and checked against your approved prototype; design-for-manufacturing fixes made before the batch.
Robots we have taken through it
| Build | Units and unit cost | Development | Development time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lidar line-following car | Delivered: 10 at $150 each | $5,000 | 1 month |
| Six-legged robot | Parts $180 per set at 10 sets | $5,000 | 20 days |
| Voice-controlled quadruped | Parts $200 per unit at 15 sets | $5,000 | 20 days |
| Wheel-legged balancing robot | Parts about $150 per set at 20 sets | $5,000 | 20 days |
| ROS 2 omnidirectional robot | Parts about $800 per unit at 50 sets | $4,500 | 18 days |
Reference figures are our engineers' numbers for a similar build, not invoices or quotes. Only the lidar car is a delivered price.
What you send
Schematics and PCB files, BOM, firmware, CAD, photos or video of the working unit, known bugs and test results, target quantity, markets and date. If you have a working prototype, we review what you have and quote only the gap.
Not included
- Certification testing (FCC/CE)
- Done by a test lab and quoted separately when a product needs it.
- Shipping and import duties
- Usually arranged by you once units leave the factory.
- Changes outside the written scope
- Re-quoted, with a new timeline, before work continues.
Related: testing and release → · where each step happens → · project evaluation → · low-volume robotics runs →
Send what you have, even if it is only a sketch.
Review my projectOr WhatsApp Zisheng, our engineering lead: +86 185 3620 3904 · Book a 30-minute call