Car Dashboard: Symbols and Manufacturing Process

A car dashboard is an integral part of an automobile’s interior. It not only improves the aesthetics of the cars but also has important symbols that help the person driving the car.

If you are looking forward to learning about the car dashboard and its manufacturing process, the guide below is for you.

What is a Car Dashboard?

The car dashboard is also called the instrument panel, which has the control panel of the vehicle. It is at the front of the driver's seat. It creates a division between the front of the car and the driver. A car dashboard has caution, electronic signs, and indicating symbols.

Different Meanings of Car Dashboard Symbols

The different symbols that appear on the dashboard have their meanings. Not every symbol is a warning. Some symbols give details about the primary vehicle features, and some are warnings.

The car dashboard symbols have different colored lights, and each light represents a particular function. Blue and green lights indicate that the engine system of a car is working, and yellow and orange lights warn that the vehicle needs servicing. Red indicates immediate attention requirements.

For instance, while driving, if you observe a red light, it signals a significant issue, like overheating of the engine. So, at this time, you should stop driving for safety.

Types of Car Dashboard Symbols

There are different types of car dashboard symbols, and these are as follows:

Oil Pressure Warning Light

The oil pressure warning light indicates a problem with the oil pressure. If it blinks, the reason could be that there is not enough oil. It can also indicate that there is a problem with the oil pump, which is why it is not circulating.

Tire Pressure Warning Light

It indicates that there is an issue with the tire pressure; either the pressure is too low or too high.

Engine Warning Light

It lights up for many reasons, like an open or loose gas cap, and sometimes it indicates severe issues like low oil pressure.

Engine Temperature Warning Light

This light indicates that the engine of the car is heating, which is mostly due to a problem with the car’s cooling system.

Low Fuel Indicator

It indicates low fuel in the car and alerts that you need to refuel.

Battery Alert Light

A battery alert light indicates issues with the charging system of a car and issues like a faulty cable of the battery and alternator.

Seat Belt Reminder

A seat belt reminder indicates that the passengers and drivers have not fastened their seat belts.

Airbag Indicator

It indicates the problems with the car's airbag system.

Brake Warning Light

It indicates the problem with the brake.

Door Open Indication

The door open indicator indicates that the door is not shut properly; it even indicates the non-closure of the trunk.

Functions of Dashboard Parts in a Car

There are multiple parts in a car's dashboard, and the functions of each of these parts are as follows:

Car Indicator Lights

These lights grab the attention of the driver behind the car. These lights also show other parameters of a vehicle, like the airbag, brake, engine check, and engine temperature. There are various lights, known as car indicator lights, on the dashboard.

Car Drawer

The drawer of the car is at the front of the passenger seat, and it allows for the storage of items. Many people store items like chargers for phones, manuals for the car, documents for the vehicle, and flashlights.

Ignition Key

The ignition key is present at the bottom right part of the car’s steering wheel; you can insert the car key and start the car.

Car Lever

Car levers are present on the two sides of the steering wheel. When you turn the car, you can turn it on to signal the cars at the back, it even helps turn the headlights on. There is a transmission level in the car, too, which is used for shifting the gears to increase or decrease the speed.

Head Unit

The head unit includes the car's entertainment system. It can play music or allow you to connect a smartphone to the car.

Car’s Control Centre

The control center of the car is in the center of the dashboard and has the air conditioning unit and settings for the hazard lights.

Parts and Components of a Car Dashboard

There are different parts of the car dashboard, and each of them is interconnected. The common components of a car’s dashboard are the following:

• Indicator lights
• Head units
• Temperature gauge
• Speedometer
• Car drawers

Car Dashboard Manufacturing Process

The process of car dashboard manufacturing has several stages, and these are as follows:

1. Car Dashboard Design and Development

The process of manufacturing for every product requires a design development at first. It is important to develop a Modelo CAD for the car dashboard first. It must include all the features and components in the design, and a proper 3D model can be created for you to look at.

2. Material Selection for Car Dashboards

Once the design is created, the next stage is to decide on the materials that suit the manufacturer and are compatible with the car’s dashboard. These are primarily made using different types of plastics.

Commonly opened polymers for the car dashboard are composed of polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, ABS, and polycarbonate. They are lightweight and durable plastics; they can resist abrasion and shattering and help with even light distribution.

3. Car Dashboard Prototyping

The car dashboard, once designed, requires designing prototypes. The prototypes can be manufactured using CNC machining, and they are a 3D model of the car dashboard. The design can be tested and analysed using prototypes of car dashboards.

It helps analyse whether the design meets the expectations and whether the functional requirements justify it. Once the prototype is passed after testing, high-volume components are manufactured.

4. Car Dashboard Testing

The testing of car dashboard prototypes is an important phase. It helps inspect the functionality and quality. The manufacturers can analyse whether the prototypes are capable of withstanding exposure to harsh conditions. It helps with improved durability; the components that fail the test are not used, and the design is modified.

5. Injection Molding Process

Once the prototype is ready, it is forwarded to high-volume production. The dashboards are made using plastics, which makes injection molding a suitable method. The process involves heating plastic polymers and injecting them into aluminum dies to attain the required shapes.

O processo de moldagem por injeção has various applications and benefits, and can help produce components in large volumes.

6. Car Dashboard Assembly

Once all the parts of a car dashboard are manufactured, the next stage is the assembly of components. Parts are assembled and converted into a large design of a car dashboard, which is fully functional.

7. Quality Control and Inspection

Quality control and inspection are essential parts of the manufacturing process. Quality control is conducted at each stage of manufacturing. It validates the process of production and ensures that standards are met.

The process of quality control and inspection measures and examines the performance of each part to meet the customer's requirements.

Conclusão

Car dashboard manufacturing is a detailed process and needs a lot of care so that safety and functionality are prioritized. If you are looking forward to having car dashboard components manufactured with high quality and precision, we at DEK can help you.

We have versatile methods implemented for manufacturing and testing the components. We also use high-quality plastic polymers that are suitable for component application.