×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Can I get a one off mold in Southern California?

Can I get a one off mold in Southern California?

Can I get a one off mold in Southern California?

(OP)
I need a plastic part to see if it will work in the application I need.  If it works I would need more but if not I wouldnt.  Does anyone know of a place in Southern California that does this?  Thank you in advance.

-Marc

RE: Can I get a one off mold in Southern California?

Not local to SoCal, but I've had success with FirstCut prototype (www.firstcut.com).  If you must stay local, a decent machine shop can make a one-off machined prototype.  It doesn't make much sense to build a mold if there is a chance the part will be a complete failure.

RE: Can I get a one off mold in Southern California?

(OP)
Sorry thats what I meant just a prototype that I can try to see if it works.

Thank You

RE: Can I get a one off mold in Southern California?

Would an SLA do?

RE: Can I get a one off mold in Southern California?

There are several methods of making prototypes.

The method depends on the factors you wish to test.

The only way to truely emulate all parameters is to make a prototype mould and produce mouldings in the exact same material.

To test type shape and fit, SLA is very good.

To get some idea of strength, machined parts from bar stock can work, but, extrusion grades of material tend to be tougher and maybe not quite so rigid and the machining process removes skin layers and leaves notches, both of which can have a significant effect on strength.

Sometimes a very simple mould in epoxy can be cast off a SLA or wood or whatever prototype. This can be inserted in a bolster and a few mouldings taken off. Once again, limitations on pack pressure and effective cooling rate can change physical properties a bit.

Regards

eng-tips, by professional engineers for professional engineers
Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

RE: Can I get a one off mold in Southern California?

Patprimmer is correct in that their are many ways to prototype a part, however if this part is eventually going to be injection molded, you will need to determine a method that will represent the production part as close as possible. I use SLA's only for parts where I may want to see detail and use for marketing purposes. SLS is better suited for limited materials for the purpose of testing product function. Machining may be the least expensive depending on size and once again the end use, as you will not get an exact match to a molded part. Maybe your volumes are low and machining may be the method of manufacturing the production parts? You also can Google prototype molded parts and there are several companies that will build you aluminum tooling that will mold a part exactly like the production part and usually within a short lead time depending once again on what the design is.

Regards,

mtpi.us

RE: Can I get a one off mold in Southern California?

midvail:

Depending on the size and complexity of your part, you can have an injection mold built within 4-6 weeks. I know a place in Southern Cal that would be happy to accomodate you. It's a company I used to be with before I got into consulting. By the way, I do not charge anything for referrals. So, feel free to contact me for more info.smile

Eugene Kim
www.eeksolutions.com

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources