Achilles was a great warrior of ancient Greece and the hero of Homer’s Iliad, but despite his legendary invulnerability, an arrow to the heel led to his downfall. Likewise, something as small as a washer can become the Achilles heel of any design if not considered carefully. Stamped parts like washers – found in everything from recliners, to kitchen blenders, to cars, and much more – come in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials. With so many options, design engineers might pick the first material and form that meets their basic requirements, but this can lead to a sub-optimal…