Plastic & Metal Product Manufacturing Processes are the important aspect that every industrial designer and mechanical engineer should consider in the selection of the right product manufacturing process. For product development, there are many manufacturing processes that engineers can utilize; however, choosing the right one can for Plastic & Metal Product Manufacturing Processes will impact greatly on the cost of manufacturing as well as the success of the final product.
For the sake of this discussion, let us assume that you need to make at least 10,000 parts with the best process of using Plastic & Metal Product Manufacturing Processes. For less quantity, rapid prototyping or 3D printing processes are more appropriate and economical.
Here are some plastic manufacturing processes among Plastic & Metal Product Manufacturing Processes that plastic product manufacturers commonly utilize to mass produce of plastic parts and components.
Plastic injection molding is the most preferred process in Plastic & Metal Product Manufacturing Processes that produces parts and components with the lowest cost per part. The process is ideal for moderately sized production runs. The production tooling cost is a bit of a concern, especially if you do not have a definitive mold for the plastic part. Nevertheless, you can use aluminum molds until you get the definitive mold design. Once you have the definitive mold design, you can shift to stainless steel molds, which are durable and suitable for a high-volume production.
Computer numerical control machining or just CNC machining is the process among Plastic & Metal Product Manufacturing Processes in which computers play a big role in controlling the CNC machines like mills, plasma cutters, drills, etc. CNC machining is an ideal process to employ for small-sized production runs for small parts. The process allows precision and good surface finish too. The drawback of CNC machining is the high costs. Nevertheless, CNC machining offers automation, which eliminates manual labor and errors caused by manual laborers.
Rotational molding is an appropriate plastic product manufacturing process among Plastic & Metal Product Manufacturing Processes to produce soft, rubbery parts. Both simple and complex parts can be produced using rotational molding. It also helps produce several pieces of a single part, which can then be assembled together. This eliminates overall fabrication costs. Rotational molding also eliminates significant wastage of material. The drawback of this process is it does not facilitate precision. And just like plastic injection molding, the production tooling cost is a concern.
Thermoforming is a suitable process among Plastic & Metal Product Manufacturing Processes to manufacture large plastic parts. The production tooling cost is lower than other plastic product manufacturing processes. The production time is also lower. The disadvantage of thermoforming is that it does not offer precision. Intricate shapes and good surface finish are also hard to achieve with thermoforming.
Metal product manufacturing is more expensive than plastic product manufacturing because metals are more costly than plastic materials. It is possible to rapid prototype or 3D print some metal parts, but it will prove uneconomical.
Here are some metal manufacturing processes among Plastic & Metal Product Manufacturing Processes that product manufacturers commonly utilize to mass produce metal parts and its components.
Aside from the plastic parts, with CNC machining, it is possible to produce metal parts. Thanks to computers, playing a role in controlling CNC machines, the process is appropriate for making complex parts. Precision is easy to achieve with CNC machining. The drawback of CNC machining is the high costs, even for producing small parts.
Die casting is a suitable metal product manufacturing process to produce metal parts with high dimensional accuracy and smooth surface finish. The process facilitates rapid production rates. The per part cost is also lower than other metal manufacturing processes. The drawback, however, is the high production tooling cost – perhaps it has the highest tooling cost.
One of the oldest processes, investment casting is appropriate to manufacture complex parts with a very smooth surface. The process also offers exceptional dimensional accuracy. The drawback, aside from the cost, is the long production-cycle times. For high-volume manufacturing, the process could prove to be expensive and infeasible.
Sand casting is one of the most popular processes to produce small and complex metal parts. Instead of metal molds, this process utilizes sand molds. This substantially reduces the cost. With sand casting, it is possible to achieve high dimensional accuracy. The process is suitable for low to medium production runs, but for high volumes, it will prove to be infeasible.
Aside from these processes, there are many other plastic product manufacturing processes and metal product manufacturing processes. Choosing the right one will affect the cost of manufacturing and the success of the final product.
Looking for a good plastic product manufacturer in California? Look no further than GID Company. A product development company, based in California, GID Company provides exceptional product design, product prototyping, plastic product manufacturing, 3D printing and other services. With their experience and expertise in injection molding, CNC machining and other processes, the professional industrial and mechanical engineers at GID Company can help you develop exceptional new products.
Have any queries regarding plastic product manufacturing? Just call Jim Grimes at +1-714-323-1052 between 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST, for a FREE 15-minute telephonic conference. He will answer to various questions regarding plastic product manufacturing and rapid prototyping.
The manufacturing process for plastic products typically involves methods like injection molding, extrusion, blow molding, and thermoforming. GID Company offers a range of plastic product manufacturing services, ensuring precision and quality at each stage to bring your design to life efficiently.
Metal product manufacturing processes include casting, forging, extrusion, stamping, and machining. GID Company specializes in these techniques, providing high-quality, custom metal product manufacturing to meet diverse industry needs.
Injection molding is the most common method for manufacturing plastic products due to its efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and ability to produce complex shapes. GID Company’s expertise in injection molding ensures your plastic products are manufactured to precise specifications and quality standards.
Plastic production typically involves melting raw materials and shaping them through processes like extrusion, molding, or casting. GID Company utilizes advanced production methods to manufacture durable, high-quality plastic products that meet your exact requirements.
The raw materials for plastic manufacturing often include polymers derived from petrochemicals, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and PVC. GID Company’s plastic manufacturing services use high-grade raw materials to ensure durability, functionality, and environmental compliance in your products.
While several global companies are leading plastic manufacturers, GID Company stands out in providing custom plastic product manufacturing solutions that are tailored to client specifications and market needs.
The four primary types of manufacturing processes are:
GID Company’s expertise spans all these processes, offering both plastic and metal product manufacturing solutions to meet the unique needs of each project.
The four stages of metal processing are:
GID Company provides comprehensive metal manufacturing services, covering each stage to ensure high-quality and precision in every metal product we create.
