Key Methods for Prototype Plastic Part Production

Injection Molding:

• Molten plastic (e.g., PLA, ABS, PC) is injected into a mold to form precise parts.

• Best for production-like prototypes with tight tolerances (±0.05–0.1 mm).

• Requires molds (aluminum for prototyping), making it costlier upfront but efficient for 10–1,000 parts.

3D Printing:

• Techniques like FDM (for PLA), SLA, or SLS create parts layer-by-layer from digital models.

• Ideal for complex geometries, quick turnaround (hours to days), and single units.

• Tolerances (±0.1–0.3 mm) are less precise than injection molding; parts may lack production-grade strength.

Vacuum Casting:

• Liquid resin is poured into silicone molds under vacuum, cured, and removed.

• Cost-effective for 10–50 detailed parts; good for visual or low-stress prototypes.

• Tolerances (±0.2–0.5 mm) are suitable for non-functional testing.

CNC Machining:

• Plastic blocks are milled or turned to create parts.

• High precision (±0.01–0.05 mm) but limited to simpler geometries; ideal for functional prototypes or mold creation.

Recommendation: Choose injection molding for production-like parts, 3D printing for rapid iterations, vacuum casting for small batches, or CNC machining for precision.