How is this item made?
How is this item made?
(OP)

Is this made with injection molding or some thermoplastic process? I am completely new to plastics manufacturing and it doesn't seem possible that this part is made with injection molding because of the different appearance of the clear display window, vs the marbled resin looking edges. This is a piece made by a previous supplier of ours who went out of business, and we are looking to replace it. Thank you






RE: How is this item made?
Cut it in half with a hand hacksaw using a Rem-Grit blade.
Capture the shavings/ dust that falls off, separately for the rim and for the transparency.
Describe how it smells as you cut each.
Burn the shavings/dust, separately for the rim and the transparency.
Describe how difficult it is to light, and whether it wants to stay lit.
Do it again, and try to dissolve the shavings in various solvents.
Those simple tests will help you figure out what general type of plastics are involved, if not the exact formulation.
Before you invest that much sweat in it, chat up your former supplier's principals, and see if they will reveal the materials and processes, and sell you the tooling. Offer them a limited consultancy to help you get set up for manufacture in your facility, etc.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: How is this item made?
RE: How is this item made?
I sent the casing to a plastic supplier in my area to find out what it's made of. I was able to do some lighter tests, if I leave the flame on for 5 or so seconds it will ignite, and it turns an ugly greyish/black once ignited. The only solvent I have laying around is Acetone which greatly affected the items, made them develop a white texture which I am not able to remove.
Our ultimate goal is to reproduce these items, and I've been looking into some CAD designers who I could send the product to, although they will need to touch the 3D scan up because the cases we have now are a little damaged from being pryed apart, which are they not designed to do (like you see in the photo).
If I can't find someone for that service, I will likely get some high quality scans and try sending them to someone on fiverr to develop the 3D files. Our budget for these service/s is very large, in case anyone is interested in assisting me. Thank you for the responses
RE: How is this item made?
RE: How is this item made?
RE: How is this item made?
RE: How is this item made?
Not all of them will be interested, of course, but when you have a short list, go IN PERSON and get acquainted with what they do and how they do it.
Molding issues tend to be corrected sooner and cheaper with a local partner than with some outfit about which you know nothing, on the other side of the country, or the world.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: How is this item made?
www.tynevalleyplastics.co.uk
Politicians like to panic, they need activity. It is their substitute for achievement.
RE: How is this item made?
RE: How is this item made?
If you need my help, shoot me one email.
Expert of nucleating agents
www.nucleatingagent.com
RE: How is this item made?
RE: How is this item made?
So that fits what it looks like at least (for example cd case fronts is made of this and they are very clear)