Advice on material choice and manufacturing methods Req..

[Ari33]

Hi, My name is Ari, Im a service technician and live in East Kilbride, near Glasgow.

I've joined this forum in the hope that you will be able to help/offer advice with my latest project which is still at planning stage. Having an electrical background, I dont have a great knowledge of plastics and hope some of you may be able to help a complete newb

1st of all I need to identify which plastic to use..

Desirable qualities-
Thermoplastic, Strong yet with a degree flexability yet springyness (ability to retain former shape after being bent), good impact resistance, tough, durable, a degree of shater-proofness and UV resistance, a 0 -25 Deg C temperature range before strength and flexability was compromised would also be desirable.

My project prototype is mostly likely to be made from a long thin piece of plastic ranging from aprox 3 - 6 cm in width to 100 cm in length. The piece will have a series of curves/bends and quite acute radi along its length and will also have slots and holes in it.

What is the most likely and economical method of manufacturing the item I've described?


I aim to have some CAD drawings of the piece soon but please ask me about anthing I havent thought about/covered.

Many thanks in advance..


Ari.

 

[Demon3]

Nylon 6 or 6,6 springs to mind as having the required properties. You can compare polymer properties or search by properties at

http://www.matweb.com

If the unfilled nylon isn't stiff enough, you can add some filler, probably mica or glass fiber are best. When looking at modulus values for nylon look for the conditioned values not the as molded values. Unfilled nylon as molded is very stiff but the modulus in use will be halved due to water uptake.

PP copolymer might work as well and is cheaper.

There is not any memory with less satisfaction than the memory of some temptation we resisted.
- James Branch Cabell

 

[patprimmer]

You have given no where near enough detail, but I will take a real wild guess an say Acetal with UV stabilisers, or PBT or Polycarbonate or even nylon, depending on real load and allowed deflection and real min and max temperatures.

Flow path length might be an issue, especially with PC

UV might be an issue, especially with Acetal if it is not loaded with carbon black as well as UV stabiliser.

Impact might be a issue with PBT

Warpage might be an issue with PBT and Acetal.

Chemical reistance might be an issue with PC.

Regards

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