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AnodizingGuide_Feb202024 Most injection molds are made of steel or aluminum. Conventional wisdom holds that steel molds are more expensive, and that aluminum is more cost-effective for lower part volumes. However, that’s not always true – at least if you choose Fictiv for your next injection molding project. There are important differences between different types of […]
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AnodizingGuide_Feb202024 Low-volume injection molding lets you leverage the benefits of plastic injection molding without incurring the costs associated with producing high volumes of parts. This article explains what low-volume injection molding is and considers its advantages and disadvantages. You’ll also learn about the relationship between part design and low-volume plastic parts production, and examine alternatives […]
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AnodizingGuide_Feb202024 Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is a transparent amorphous thermoplastic homopolymer that’s also known as acrylic or acrylic glass. PMMA plastic is an excellent alternative to glass and polycarbonate because it’s naturally transparent and has a glass-like appearance. PMMA has numerous modern-day applications and some highly useful properties. One common method for shaping and finishing PMMA […]
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AnodizingGuide_Feb202024 Overmolding is a manufacturing process that molds a polymer over a substrate. It eliminates the need for parts assembly after molding, and allows designers to leverage the individual properties of multiple materials. Plastic overmolding is used to produce the handles on metal-bladed screwdrivers, but can also be used in products that don’t contain any […]
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AnodizingGuide_Feb202024 Injection molding tolerances are acceptable variations in size for part features and overall dimensions. They are expressed as plus or minus (±) values in millimeters or inches and vary by the type of material that’s used and the overall size of the part. Part designers add tolerances to CAD files to tell an injection […]
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AnodizingGuide_Feb202024 Stainless steel, a corrosion-resistant iron-chromium alloy, is one of the most common and versatile metal alloys in the world. It’s strong, environmentally resilient, visually appealing, affordable, and has properties that are hard to come by in other metals. It is a green material due to its near-infinite recyclability. From the surface of the latest […]
