Options for Plastics Prototype and Production Parts

PLASTIC PARTS

With Stereolithography (SLA), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) and Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) there is considerable choice when prototyping plastic parts. However, with all the hype around 3D Printing techniques it is easy to overlook the more established option of CNC Machining. This remains a very cost effective solution, especially for larger parts and functional materials.

Let's look at the options.

Rapid Prototyping (RP) is ideally suited to handling high component complexity. It provides a fast and economic means of validating such designs before tooling release. 

Despite the growth of RP, CNC machining still plays a significant part in plastic prototyping and low volume production and should not be overlooked as a viable option. Material choices are wider and when combined with our global sourcing, which includes the Far East, the results we can give you are often extremely economically attractive.

Vacuum casting is the first step into tooling; we can offer through this process good detail combined with a range of polyurethanes designed to emulate the mainstream production of plastic parts. Depending on part and materials chased, tool life is typically 15 - 25 off.

Bridge tooling is an extremely viable option when you need to produce plastic parts from production intent material whilst avoiding investment in expensive production tooling. Part quantities can range from low 10's to 1000's off, and can use loose inserts to avoid automation.

Injection moulding still dominates the production of the majority of plastic parts, and whether combined with bridge tooling or full production tooling, offers a consistent high quality source of parts. Usually considered to involve long lead times and high costs, this is not always the case and is really a case of matching the requirements to the type of tooling produced. - this is something we can help you with.

Depending upon the combination of processes and material selected, varying levels of evaluation from basic visuals through form and fit, to full functional verification can be performed.

This article was composed from notes taken from posts in plunkettassociates.co.uk