Shenzhen Alu Rapid Prototype Precision Co., Ltd.

1.Purpose:

Enables the production of plastic prototypes that closely mimic the final product in material, geometry, and properties.

Used for testing functionality, aesthetics, or manufacturability during the design phase.

Facilitates iterative design changes without the high costs of production tooling.

2.Materials for Tooling:

Soft Tooling: Uses cost-effective materials like aluminum, soft steel, epoxy resin, or silicone for molds. These are less durable but faster and cheaper to produce.

3D-Printed Tooling: Polymer or composite molds created via 3D printing (e.g., SLA, FDM) for very low volumes or complex shapes.

Hybrid Tooling: Combines machined and 3D-printed elements for flexibility and precision.

3.Common Processes Using Prototype Tooling:

Injection Molding (Prototype): Molten plastic is injected into a soft or 3D-printed mold to create parts. Suitable for testing production-grade materials like ABS, PC, or nylon.

Vacuum Casting (Polyurethane Casting): Liquid polyurethane is poured into a silicone mold under vacuum to produce parts that simulate injection-molded plastics. Ideal for 10–50 parts.

Thermoforming: Heated plastic sheets are formed over a mold (often aluminum or resin) using vacuum or pressure. Used for large, thin-walled parts like trays or covers.

RIM (Reaction Injection Molding): Uses low-pressure mixing of two-part resins (e.g., polyurethane) in a soft mold for large, lightweight prototypes.

4.Materials for Plastic Parts:

Thermoplastics (e.g., ABS, polycarbonate, polypropylene, nylon) for injection molding or thermoforming.

Polyurethane resins for vacuum casting, mimicking properties of production plastics.

Specialty plastics (e.g., flexible TPU or transparent acrylic) for specific requirements.