How to Select the Best Plastic Prototype for Your Plastic Machined Components?

 

It is important to choose the most appropriate material when crafting plastic prototype and end-use parts made. That’s because plastics tend to vary in durability, aesthetics, and strength. However, making a choice can be intimidating when you are faced with many options. In that case, it may be best to rely on a company that specializes in plastic molding in China. Their in-house engineering team can review your design, objectives, and data and recommend the best options to you. They may be able to suggest the best prototyping method for your project based on your unique requirements, too!

 

Consider knowing the different types of plastics available to you, as your choice can ultimately influence the looks, longevity, reliability, safety, and performance of your product. To get started, consider the following factors:

 

  • The purpose of your components and any mechanical functions that are relevant to them
  • The number of prototypes you need
  • The manufacturing process used (i.e., injection molding, 3D printing, or CNC machining)
  • Costs associated with the material and process to be used
  • Timing, which will vary according to availability of materials and the process

 

It helps to know the most popular plastics used for building a plastic prototype. Here are few of them:

 

  • ABS – Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene is a strong plastic that provides a good surface finish. It can be customized to achieve the exact look that you want for your parts.
  • PP – Polypropylene may be appropriate for parts that require flexibility. That makes this plastic practical for making automotive interiors, as it won’t react with most substances and it can resist stress and cracks. It is typically used for injection molding.
  • Nylon – There are different types of nylon used for plastic molding in China to ensure durable and strong results. For instance, it can be glass-filled to increase heat resistance and strength.
  • Photocurable resin – Typically made from acrylic bases or epoxy, and suitable for prototypes where the design must be quickly proven to allow faster production at a reasonable cost.

 

 

 

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