Here's how you can optimize CAD models for manufacturing processes using logical reasoning.

always keep for measurements of what Exactly you're designing or modelling. It's very crucial in CAD to get the exact geometry. Logical reasoning dictates that the simpler the geometry, the easier and more cost-effective it will be to manufacture the part.

If CNC machining, think through the machining process and keep in mind the number of tool changes and how many different tools are needed for each part. Does your design need five different fillet sizes or can they be made into the same radius? Dedicate time to learning the machining processes you'll be using when starting a new job and maintain this understanding by checking in with your vendors or fab teams regularly. Don't be afraid to ask them for feedback on any problems they see and ways to improve and simplify the design.

Use "Feature Suppression" in your CAD software to temporarily remove or hide complex features that are not essential for the primary function of the part. This can reduce computational load and make the model easier to analyze and manufacture. Always verify if simplified versions meet the functional requirements before finalizing.

Choosing the material comes from what part are you going to design. Selecting the right material for your design is a critical step. Let's say you're up to metal and choose the best material of the metal. You always should think of sustainable materials that help in recycling

Implement a "Material Selection Matrix" that cross-references materials with their properties and suitability for different manufacturing processes. This matrix helps in quickly identifying the best material options based on strength, cost, weight, and manufacturability, ensuring an optimal balance.

Tolerances are the acceptable limits of variation in a physical dimension. parameters too tight can lead to increased costs and production challenges, while too loose may result in parts that don't fit or function properly

Every additional decimal point in a dimension results in an additional cost. Reach out to the fab team and ask what their tolerances are for their machining process. Add these to the CAD models and ensure the worst case misalignment wont disrupt your part operation and try to mitigate the trailing zeros.

Use "Design for Manufacturability (DFM) Guidelines" to evaluate feature placement. Tools like DFM checklists can help identify potential manufacturing issues related to feature placement, such as difficulty in machining, increased production time, or higher costs, and suggest improvements.

Conduct a "Virtual Assembly Simulation" to identify potential issues in the assembly process. This simulation can highlight alignment problems, interference issues, and assembly sequence errors before physical prototyping, saving time and reducing costs.

In my experience, this is very important as we can create parts and assemblies that fit the product function and safety requirements but if it is hard to assemble then we are decreasing the productivity as more time is required to assemble the product. If this is taken into consideration then this is avoided. There are some cases where it is unavoidable to make the assembly easier. In these cases designing a fixture that might assist in the assembly is required but if such a fixture cannot be designed then it is beneficial to explore other designs.

Many times we design products keeping our user and market requirements in mind. But not all products can be manufactured. It is always recommended to visualize the manufacturing processes (additive/subtractive) during the design stage itself to avoid future pivots.

Incorporate "Lifecycle Assessment (LCA)" tools to evaluate the environmental impact of your design from production to disposal. By considering factors like material recyclability, manufacturing energy consumption, and end-of-life disposal, you can optimize your CAD model for sustainability as well as manufacturability.