Plastic Manufacturing
Discussion
Good Morning,
I have a requirement to manufacture a small & simple plastic item. Its no longer available to purchase (in the volume we require) and its a pain in the arse without them... Therefore I want to see if I can get them made (we'd be looking to get at least 10,000pcs made).
I have absolutely no experience or contacts in this industry, so would be grateful if any of you guys could push me in the right direction?
Thanks.
I have a requirement to manufacture a small & simple plastic item. Its no longer available to purchase (in the volume we require) and its a pain in the arse without them... Therefore I want to see if I can get them made (we'd be looking to get at least 10,000pcs made).
I have absolutely no experience or contacts in this industry, so would be grateful if any of you guys could push me in the right direction?
Thanks.
This was just a quick Google result, Russ, but I think it's the sort of thing you want http://www.manumolding.co.uk/
Magic919 said:
This was just a quick Google result, Russ, but I think it's the sort of thing you want http://www.manumolding.co.uk/
Thanks fella, currently looking at similar companies and putting together an email for them. 
Scalextric flyover support?
I use these guys at work quite abit for similar stuff; http://www.protolabs.co.uk Might be worth giving them a call and asking, they are are very helpful and friendly.
I use these guys at work quite abit for similar stuff; http://www.protolabs.co.uk Might be worth giving them a call and asking, they are are very helpful and friendly.
Doesn't look particularly complex but unless you can find a proactive manufacturer, you'll have to do the running.
I base this comment on recent dealings with a sheet metal fabricator.
I created the 3D models myself so cut out a large proportion of costly development (other than my time).
Drawing up the tooling for your part would be fairly straightforward but there's the actual plastic material needed & the actual machinery of the OEM to consider.
To give you some idea, a recent enquiry for a two-part crimp tool resulted in a quote of £900 - for a far, far simpler arrangement.
I think there is at least one PH'er who works with IM plastics.
Out of interest, why can't the original supplier meet the volumes you require?
I base this comment on recent dealings with a sheet metal fabricator.
I created the 3D models myself so cut out a large proportion of costly development (other than my time).
Drawing up the tooling for your part would be fairly straightforward but there's the actual plastic material needed & the actual machinery of the OEM to consider.
To give you some idea, a recent enquiry for a two-part crimp tool resulted in a quote of £900 - for a far, far simpler arrangement.
I think there is at least one PH'er who works with IM plastics.
Out of interest, why can't the original supplier meet the volumes you require?
It's been a while since I was involved in manufacturing, but don't think a run of 10k wouldn't be enough to justify injection moulding tooling costs.
You could make silicon moulds from the part and cast them in resin (you may have to do without the web in the middle)
For that sort of volume you could also look at getting them cast in aluminium (investment casting would be a possibility)
You could make silicon moulds from the part and cast them in resin (you may have to do without the web in the middle)
For that sort of volume you could also look at getting them cast in aluminium (investment casting would be a possibility)
I used to be a design engineer years ago, this company would be the ones everyone would talk about when you needed plastic components moulding in lower volumes: https://www.protolabs.co.uk
10,000 is a decent run IMO that warrants looking around.
I'd be looking east for that part for low price and it's simplicity.
Protolabs will want >50p / part, maybe £1 & 1.5k tooling. They don't really negotiate. Good quality though from soft tools.
Lob your CAD in and get prices from protolabs though, it's a.fast and slick quoting system, but these guys are expensive and sell on speed. I guess you'd do better finding alternative suppliers based more on price than speed. We use a few in the UK, they do exist.
S
I'd be looking east for that part for low price and it's simplicity.
Protolabs will want >50p / part, maybe £1 & 1.5k tooling. They don't really negotiate. Good quality though from soft tools.
Lob your CAD in and get prices from protolabs though, it's a.fast and slick quoting system, but these guys are expensive and sell on speed. I guess you'd do better finding alternative suppliers based more on price than speed. We use a few in the UK, they do exist.
S
Cheers, I'll give him a bell. Although as for current production, there isn't any. They have not been made for years, they were replaced with an inferior product which is now out of stock for months...
Sketched the product up in cad this afternoon and popped across to protolabs - I had a proof and quote within an hour. Prices seem reasonable, but not knowing anything about this type of work I'm not sure how it compares to a local etc. I'll stick my drawing around a few places and see what happens...
Thanks.
Sketched the product up in cad this afternoon and popped across to protolabs - I had a proof and quote within an hour. Prices seem reasonable, but not knowing anything about this type of work I'm not sure how it compares to a local etc. I'll stick my drawing around a few places and see what happens...
Thanks.
Gassing Station | Business | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff