Modular Actuator Housing Drying Rack

Overview

As part of Dometic's transition to an in-house painting process for actuator housings, I designed and developed a modular drying rack system to improve production efficiency and handling throughout the finishing process. The rack was engineered to securely support multiple housing configurations while maximizing airflow, minimizing contact points with painted surfaces, and allowing operators to quickly load and unload parts. The project involved the complete mechanical design process, including CAD modeling in Creo Parametric, structural analysis to validate load capacity and identify potential failure points, prototype fabrication, and physical testing. The modular design allowed the fixture to be easily adapted for future product variants while reducing manufacturing complexity and assembly time. Through iterative design, finite element analysis, and hands-on validation, the final solution provided a durable, reusable production fixture that supported Dometic's new in-house coating workflow while improving consistency, ergonomics, and manufacturing efficiency.

Key Deliverables

• Designed a modular drying rack for painted actuator housings
• Performed FEA to validate structural integrity and determine safe load capacity.
• Optimized the design for manufacturability, durability, and future scalability.