×
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

invention manufacturing problem

invention manufacturing problem

invention manufacturing problem

(OP)
Aloha everyone. I have a product that I would like to produce myself initially so that the testing/evaluation can be done privately. I have a so-so prototype, but would like to make this closer to the finished product. My question is this- are there any reasonable ways to mold plastic at home? With a small amount of assistance, I am certain that I could make this at home. Expensive solutions are not an option yet. Thanks to all who respond.

RE: invention manufacturing problem

Machining is one way of making prototypes out of plastic.  I have found harder plastics like nylon or Delrin machine well.

Molding gets a little more serious, since you need a mold.  You will need to use a liquid resin that can be poured and that has either a catalytic (two part mixture) or heat induced cure.  Common resins are urethane, which has grades that can be quite hard; polyester, such as in fiberglass boats - you might find this locally available right there in Kansas :); and finally there would be epoxy resins, the strongest.  Glass fibers could be added to any of these to increase strength.  Be careful of the fumes, particularly with urethane.

RE: invention manufacturing problem

Slow response here, but for the creative independent R&D, try your local hobby store or art supply store.  Depending on the type of plastic there are suitable materials for protoype development.

RE: invention manufacturing problem

Hiya,

It's hard to tell, from your description, how large your product is.

If it's on the larger side you may want to considder fabricating in from a thermoplastic like CH2 (polyerithyne).
 You can weld it fairly easily with a gass touch if your on a budget or you can buy a hot air or ultra sonic welder.

If you want an impact resistant artical that you can clean up/model with a knife easily go for a low density grade.
High dencity on the other hand is harder, more brittle and slightly more challenging to weld.

If you want to make a showpiece of it. When you are finnished you can gloss the surface with a quick intence blast of heat. This will melt the very surface and remove many of the filemarks/weld marks and give you a radiussed glossy look.

Note: I am recoveering from a head injury sorry 'bout the spelling

best of luck
Myles

RE: invention manufacturing problem

send me details.if it fits rotomolding prototype, i use FRP molds & this can end-up to least esxpensive solution to your problem. info@rotousa.com

RE: invention manufacturing problem

It is not clear how large or what shape the part is which may make a difference in the technique you can use.  Take a look at these websites to see if they are helpful.  www.polytek.com, www.artstuff.com, www.synair.com.   ;
They describe some mold making techniques and other how-to info.

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