INDUSTRIAL DESIGN - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - MACHINE DESIGN - PROTOTYPES - PRODUCTION LIAISON

The five year collaboration between Stream PD and EDAX, a leader in X-ray microanalysis and electron diffraction instrumentation, has resulted in another groundbreaking product.

Clarity™ is the world's first commercial Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) specific detector based on Direct Detection (DD) technology. This revolutionary approach provides unparalleled pattern quality and sensitivity with no detector read noise and no distortions for optimal performance, opening new doors into the evolution of EBSD pattern detection and analysis. 

EDAX turned to Stream PD to embody Clarity’s technology in an innovative and manufacturable form, solve the problem of the tight space constraints for access ports on the electron microscope, deliver functional prototypes and transition the device to production.

EDAX initially tasked us with designing two configurations of the same product that could be used in two applications. Stream PD took initiative to creatively combine two configurations into one that would work for both applications. By creating a single engineering solution for the internal components, we reduced EDAX’s total manufacturing costs by 50%, and simplified their inventory for a single machine. One design also meant that the form of the covers could be simple and streamlined.

Clarity’s internal components insert and retract from the electron microscope, creating large service loops of cable that need to be managed inside. We stacked cables vertically using energy chains for cable management, making the product much narrower and able to fit in the smaller space. We redesigned the custom connector attachment to be more compact. We moved many of the other components around to support these changes and prototyped everything to ensure functionality.

Concurrently, we created industrial design concepts for the look and feel of the covers for both a two configuration solution and a single configuration solution. When our mechanical engineering analysis confirmed a single configuration solution was possible, EDAX supported our efforts, and the industrial design concepts converged in that direction. We are thankful for EDAX’s trust which allowed the design of a single set of covers to be simple and streamlined. Clarity’s form is a direct reflection of it’s function, narrow in the front to fit on the electron microscope, then elegantly widening towards the rear. 

Stream PD created prototypes to validate the design and fit with all mechanical components. We created a drawing package and provided support to EDAX’s internal engineering team in their transition to manufacturing. 

BUSINESS IMPACT

By combining two products into one, Stream PD reduced Edax’s manufacturing costs by 50%. Our rapid development took 2 months from a blank page to prototype during April of 2020, the beginning of the Covid pandemic. Clarity has a competitive advantage over its competition because the reduced size of the device optimizes Clarity’s ability to gain access to the electron microscope.

Clarity builds on the now easily recognized visual family identity for EDAX that we created for Octane Elite and Velocity. Clarity is EDAX’s premium microscopy product, and throughout the project EDAX insisted that every aspect of the development should be premium as well- the design, engineering, form and materials. This commitment ensures they are exceeding their customer’s expectations and solidifies their market dominance. To learn more about Clarity on EDAX’s website, click here.