Design

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How Early DFM Input Reduces Risk in Material Changes

Material changes look simple on paper. The reality is a lot more complex. What seems like a minor change early on can lead to redesigns, delays, and misalignment later. Timing is what makes the biggest impact on how successful a material change will be.

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When Does It Make Sense to Replace Metal Parts with Plastic?

For many parts, metal has been the default for decades. It’s strong, familiar, and widely used across industries. But just because it’s the default, doesn’t mean it’s always the best option.

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How Early Manufacturability Reviews Prevent Timeline Surprises

Let’s walk through a common manufacturing scenario: a product team finishes a part design and sends it to a manufacturer, expecting production to move quickly. Then the surprises start.

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What to Review Before Sending a Plastic Part Out for Quote

Engineers often send designs out for quote assuming the CAD model contains everything a manufacturer needs. In reality, manufacturers need additional details to produce the most accurate quote.

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Material Substitution Without Redesigning the Entire Part

Material substitution usually enters the conversation at an inconvenient time. Current material costs have jumped. A part is underperforming in the real world. Onshoring becomes a priority. Suddenly a design that has been “good enough” for years is back under scrutiny. Engineers may be open to ...

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How to Cut Weight Without Sacrificing Strength in Heavy Vehicles

Heavy vehicles need to cut weight wherever they can - without compromising performance to get there. Fortunately, there’s an existing fix that combines strength and lighter weight parts for heavy duty vehicles like trucks, service vehicles, agricultural vehicles, and more: thermoforming.

Thermoplastics vs. Fiberglass: A Comparison for OEMs

Both fiberglass and thermoplastics are popular material choices for OEMs across a range of industries. Each offers distinct advantages, but they perform differently depending on your specific application. In this blog, we’ll compare thermoplastics vs. fiberglass, breaking down the pros and cons of ...

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Key ANSI/OPEI Standards for Lawn Mower Manufacturers

On November 6, 2023 the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approved updates to manufacturing standards for combustion-engine-powered lawnmowers put forth by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI). These approved standards went into effect the following year as new guidelines: ...

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Proper Material Selection in the Vacuum Forming Process

Thermoforming is a plastic production process that combines heat and vacuum to carefully form custom plastic parts. Though the process can seem simple on the surface, it still requires much expertise and some significant know-how to consistently create a result that satisfies both you and your ...

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Thermoforming Design Basics

Thermoforming can be a very cost-effective means of production for precision parts where tooling costs would be excessive. Knowing the basics is critical for ensuring manufacturability and cost efficiency at each stage of the process. Use this guide to understand the critical terms and ...

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Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Selection Guide

When affixing two different materials together or adding a layer of lamination or other finishing options, pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) are the most effective method. However, there are a great number of options to choose from – so how do you know which one is the best for your application?

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Key Considerations for Processing 2D Plastic Parts

When it comes to cutting plastics, there are many different ways to process your part. Precision die-cutting involves steel rule dies, dieless knife cutting involves a vacuum table with an oscillating knife, and CNCing involves a 3-Axis CNC with a vacuum table and route.

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The Benefits of Thermoplastics in the Medical Industry

Plastic parts for the medical industry need to be clean, functional, and in no way interfere with the medical care being provided. With thermoplastics, all these outcomes are produced while still allowing attractive design and aesthetics. If you want sleek designs and cutting-edge materials, we ...

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Why Thermoforming Polymers Are Sustainable

As businesses around the world become increasingly aware of the impact of their operations on the environment, finding sustainable solutions has become a top priority. One area where significant progress has been made is in the use of thermoforming polymers.

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Designing for Manufacturability During Product Development

In the world of product engineering, designing for manufacturability means understanding the needs of each individual project and adapting models, designs, and methods to best suit those needs. Like many aspects of the product development process, designing for manufacturability requires the ...

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The Power and Possibilities of Color in Thermoplastic Design

Some materials are accompanied by an unchangeable color palette, muddled base colors, or an inability to maintain bright designs for long periods of time. Compared to these other materials, plastics and thermoplastics specifically offer an incredible amount of design potential.

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What is Infused Imaging™ Technology?

Design blooms from within using KYDEX® Thermoplastics with Infused Imaging™ technology – an exciting new technology that puts imagery *in* plastic material, not on top of plastics. If you’re looking for more freedom in the design of your thermoplastic parts, Infused Imaging™ will help you bring ...

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How Plastic Fabrication Can Reduce NVH

Loud noises and vibrations from vehicles can easily cause discomfort. Manufacturers tend to focus hard on this issue since it’s a common concern for customers. This consideration is broadly called NVH (Noise, vibration, and harshness) and is something that can be mitigated with plastic parts, which ...

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