| general |
| Q: Which method is most suitable for my part, injection moulding or vac forming ? |
| A:
This depends on your part. As a guide - use vac forming if parts thickness is uniform, A4 paper size or more & the annual quantities needed are low (10-5000) OR use injection moulding if parts wall thickness differs, is less than A4 paper size & annual quantities needed are medium-high (1000-100,000+) |
| Q: My part/s have been drawn on CAD, would the CAD files be of use to you ? |
| A: Yes! We can use them to carry out a quote, create tool drawing/s & even make mould tools saving you both time and money - DXF, DWG, IGES, Pro-Engineer, Parasolid & SolidWorks are all usable. |
| Q: I need a quote for plastic parts quickly, what information do you need ? |
| A: Complete an Enquiry Form & we'll send you a Brochure Pack & Express Quote Request Form listing all the information we need OR e-mail a digital camera image with sizes, qty's etc OR simply contact us. |
| mould tools & mouldings |
| Q: Which type do you recommend, steel mould tools or alloy mould tools ? |
| A: As a guide - If you need millions of very complex mouldings, have few cost restraints, or need a tool with mechanisms which constantly rub against each other to make the mouldings, steel mould tools are best. If you need 100 - 500,000 simple to complex mouldings on a budget & quickly, alloy mould tools are best. Please note that we can also make tools from a combination of alloy & steel. |
| Q: I've got existing mould tools - Can you fit them in your machines & make parts for me now ? |
| A: Yes, and we can even adapt your existing Manumold mould tools to run automatically in our machines |
| Q: Do you make mould tools for other companies to mould from ? |
| A: Yes, as long as the part/s are within our moulding capacity & thus we're able to prove mould tools although we do prefer to make the mouldings as well. We do also modify and repair existing mould tools. |
| Q: Is it possible to have e.g. product identification, text instructions or logos on my parts ? |
| A: This is possible for both vac forming & injection moulding and can be achieved in a number of ways. Text or logos can be engraved on mould tools to be either recessed or stood up on the injection moulding or vac forming, or it can be hot foil or pad printed on the parts after moulding or forming. |
| Q: I need the mouldings to have a particular finish, is this possible ? |
| A: Provided the finish is in a suitable area, matt, gloss or other textures can be added to the mould tool to do so. |
| Q: I need the finished mouldings to have metal inserts in, is this possible ? |
| A: Yes, inserts can be put in the finished mouldings during or after the moulding process. We can also encapsulate parts and even produce mouldings inside metal parts ( view examples ). |
| Q: Can you produce mouldings in different colours & materials ? |
A: Yes, mouldings can be made in clear materials, a range of standard colours or a specific colour to match a mating part ( view examples ), but they would cost more than the same parts in their base material colour.
Different materials are also possible & we've experience of :- ABS, CAB & CAP, EVA, HDPE & LDPE, PA6 6.6 10 11 & 12, PBT & PET, PC & PC/ABS, PES, POM, PMMA, PP, PPO & PPS, PS, PVC, PVDF, SAN, TPE & TPR. |
| Q: If I place an order, can I then call off the mouldings in several deliveries at a later date ? |
| A: We'll make your annual mouldings requirement¹ stock them then deliver as required up to 6 months from your order date, thus reducing downtimes, setup+stock holding costs (¹=Not always available-large mouldings) |
| vac forming |
| Q: My parts need protection from static & transit damage. Can you help ? |
| A: We can make you antistatic standard & custom trays by vac forming or conductive plastic mouldings |
| Q: My existing vac forming was made in 1mm material but in places, it's less than 1mm thick. Is this normal ? |
| A: Yes, whilst the plastic sheet may've been 1mm thick before forming, the vac forming process heats, stretches & forms these sheets over a wooden / aluminium tool in order to make the finished vac forming
This process reduces the vac forming in section, although this can be minimised by reducing pockets depths, using 5° - 10° draft angles on side walls & large (3 mm+) curves/radii on pockets and avoiding very narrow slots. |
| Q: My existing vac forming supplier has ceased trading, but I have a sample vac forming. Can you help ? |
| A: Provided it's in good condition, we could use it to make a resin cast tool to save you time & money. |
| Q: I've made a vac forming tool. If I send it to you, can you use it to make some vac formings for me ? |
| A: Provided the vac forming tool is finished well & has suitable draft angles, we should be able to use it to make make some vac formings for you. |
| more vac forming FAQ... |
