Modular design for a product family ofaesthetic medical laser devices

Abstract: This thesis covers a product development process carried out at the company “Asclepion Laser Technologies” for a product family of aesthetic medical laser devices. Due to different dimensions and dates of origin, an obvious divergence in the appearance of the present products within the product family had emerged in the company. Since the recognition value of a brand is greatly influenced by its product design the company aspired the development of a uniform design for the whole product family.   For this purpose, the objective of this thesis was the development of a new housing design. A modular design was pursued, to make it applicable for different devices of the same product family. Building multiple devices from the same housing modules reduces the overall production costs by decreasing tooling costs and decreasing the diversity of parts from suppliers. With the use of thermoforming as the predetermined production method, the production costs are kept low in addition.   During the master thesis project, the whole product development process was executed. The present thesis describes the development process in its four different phases, beginning with the pre-studies over ideation, concept development till the development of a final product ready for production. The implementation of suitable methods and tools in this design process, like observational studies and morphological idea generation, is outlined.   In collaboration with a thermoform specialist a CAD-model, ready for production, was delivered. After a revision of the developed product design by a commercial design company the design has been immediately transferred into serial production.