ProtoShapes, Inc. Engineering Department offers expert design services to assist in creation, modification and enhancement of your short run parts or prototype.
To begin the process we accept drawings, constructed models (epoxy, wood, metal, etc.), CAD drawings and scaled diagrams. Bob Small brings to our engineering department 42 years of automotive design and development experience with General Motors. We have the ability to develop any type of plastic part from the ground up.
Typical order of progression:
1. Part Concept (Hand Sketches)
2. Engineering (Part Development)
3. Design Work (3D Drawings)
4. SLA Generation (Physical Pattern)
5. Tooling (Mold Casting)
6. First Article (Plastic Part Made)
7. Production (High Volume or Low Volume set-up)
Material Characteristic Terms:
Durometer (hardness)
This is the most important physical property to think about. As a general rule the hardness of a plastic will determine almost all the other physical characteristics. This is measured in a Shore D and a Shore A measuring scale. Shore D is the harder plastic measuring scale and Shore A is used to measure softer plastics (used for hard to soft rubber-like characteristics).
Tensile Strength
This is measured in PSI. This is how much force it takes to pull the plastic apart.
Elongation
This is how far you can stretch the plastic before it breaks. Measured in percentage.
Tear Strength
This is how much force it takes to rip the plastic.
Shrinkage
This is how much a plastic part will shrink with reference to the original pattern.