Plantronics M3000 Bluetooth Headset
Small Package / Tight Schedule
In November 2002, IDE Inc. was contacted by Plantronics who needed to introduce a Bluetooth wireless headset, the M3000, within a very tight schedule; in fact, they needed tooled parts by early February 2003 (Chinese New Year).
The M3000 headset positions Plantronics in the Bluetooth market for the mobile phone, smart phone, automobile and PC arenas. The
M3000 features up to eight hours of battery life before needing a recharge, a thirty foot roaming area from the Bluetooth device,
a noise-canceling microphone and secure-fitting speaker, and an adjustable earloop that fits over either ear for maximum comfort.
Plantronics had an industrial design concept for the M3000 but needed a product design and engineering resource that could turn
their styling concept into a real product. As a returning IDE client, Plantronics knew it could count on IDE's previous experience
in designing and developing headphones, and they had the utmost confidence in IDE's ability to get the job done on time.
IDE's Challenge
The M3000 headset leverages on existing Plantronics technology but incorporates a new, evolutionary industrial design. IDE's
challenge was to take Plantronics' industrial design CAD files, refine and develop the design using Pro Engineer solids modeling
software to accommodate Plantronics newest electronics, battery and acoustic components; engineer all the plastic parts including
several innovative button and switch mechanisms, and have production-intent parts available within two and a half months.
During the course of the design, IDE's engineering team used Cosmos finite element analysis tools to evaluate and optimize
several new switch mechanisms, allowing the project team to make critical decisions without having to produce costly and time
consuming prototypes.
Due to the very tight M3000 development schedule, IDE's design team met with the Plantronics design and development team as
often as twice a week throughout the project, ensuring a smooth and efficient transition from product design to manufacturing.
