To read the article in Aerospace Manufacturing and Design Magazine CLICK HERE

To view EPP’s blog on How To Save Money On Plastic Machined Parts CLICK HERE

EPP President/CEO and Plastic Machining Expert Alex Curtiss discusses how to select the correct material for your custom plastic machined parts and plastic prototypes.

For a list of design considerations CLICK HERE

To download a FREE Plastic Materials handbook CLICK HERE

The largest factors in dictating price for machined plastic parts are plastic materials costs and total machining time.  The primary point of attack in minimizing plastic machined part cost is to minimize material cost.

Since 2009, we have witnessed substantial price increases from plastic material vendors of up to 30%, with Teflon and Polycarbonate as prime examples of substantial price volatility.

In order to prevent increases, place orders now for all reoccurring plastic machining needs.  Also with new product development in the pipeline, don’t wait till 2012 to order plastic prototypes.  Prevent price increases, while substantially getting to market faster.

Do not be stuck paying 2012 prices, contact us today to lock in 2011 rates on production plastic machining and plastic prototype needs.

In order to get to market fast, plastic prototypes should be fully functional. Plastic prototypes with full function of course offer the same tight tolerances and high precision as do plastic machined components, as they are one in the same. Simply fast, fully functional plastic prototypes are made in order to meet stricter deadlines, and are often ordered in smaller quantities. When ordering plastic machined prototypes, the considerations are the same as when ordering production plastic machined parts. The design specifications for production plastic machining and fast plastic prototypes are as follows:

Design Considerations For Plastic Prototypes and Plastic Machining

-Thermosensitivity – tolerance can change in different temperature conditions
-Sensitivity to humidity and hygroscopic absorption affects tolerance
-Sensitivity to chemicals and oils
-Notch sensitive corners and square ID’s
-Tolerances
-High loads
-High impact
-Fatigue loading or cycle loading requires consideration of flexing, deflecting, and compression
-Temperature – max/min extent of time
-Electrical considerations such as insulating properties
-Wear resistance or abrasion resistance
-Dimensional shape retention (load, cold flow, temperature)
-Regulatory requirements (FDA, UL, etc.)
-Appearance (color, texture)
-Optical requirements
-Outdoor use

Now that you’ve identified the important factors in your application, evaluate material specs in the Plastic Properties Handbook and select your material!

When selecting the right vendor for plastic prototypes, the process is similar to selecting the right plastic machining production vendor.  However, a greater emphasis on speed while maintaining the same quality of a production plastic machined component.  Of course, a great advantage is present for companies that get innovations to market fastest.  The goals of new product development are to create a revolutionary product, improve upon an existing product, or often to stay ahead of the competition.  Receiving FULLY FUNCTIONAL plastic prototypes fast will allow a company to reach and exceed those goals.

The following guidelines can help you locate a fully-qualified, cost effective plastic machining vendor for all your plastic machined components:

1. Material Knowledge
2. Purchasing Practices
3. Equipment
4. Quality and Price
5. Looking For the Best

Focusing on plastic prototypes, here are the guidelines to follow to select the best plastic machining vendor for the job:

1. Plastic prototypes produced and delivered in under a week
2. Plastic prototypes are fully functional
3. Highest quality for the tightest tolerances  (up to +/- .001″)
4. Vendor capable of simple and complex designs
5. Free application engineering

Not all plastic machining vendors are created equal, and capabilities may very depending on vendor.  Few plastic machining vendors are capable of turning around FULLY FUNCTIONAL plastic prototypes in under a week.  Plastic machining vendors should also provide contaminant free plastic machined components and plastic prototypes.  Speed, the highest quality, and full functionality are key in plastic prototyping for new products.  R&D budgets may have taken months to be approved, don’t delay production.

Contaminant free plastic prototypes is under a week, produced on plastic only equipment.  FULLY FUNCTIONAL from plastic machining experts EPP Corporation.  The ISO Certified experts in plastic machining to the critical instrumentation, medical, aerospace, fluid power, and medical industries at EPP are here for your plastic machining and fast plastic prototype needs.

For more details on selecting a plastic machining vendor CLICK HERE

For more information about our fast plastic prototypes service CLICK HERE

For more details about contaminant free plastic machined parts CLICK HERE

In order to make a decision, lets discuss the two different ordering methods from EPP Corporation.

Plastic Prototypes
Typically the greatest advantage of utilizing our plastic prototypes capability is to receive your components fast. We are able to turn around fully functional plastic prototypes in one week or less.  Typically of course the need for a plastic prototype would be to have a test piece.  Rather than receiving a prototype that is simply created as an example to simply display a design, our plastic prototypes are fully functional.  Having plastic prototypes that are fully functional leads to even faster new product development.  You will receive your plastic prototypes fast and have them ready for use.  All plastic materials are available for prototypes, as of course is the case for our production plastic machining service.  Tolerances on our fast plastic prototypes are as tight as +/- .001″, and simple or complex 3D designs are welcomed.  Free material application engineering is also available for customers of our plastic prototypes.

Production Plastic Machining
At EPP Corporation we are experts in plastic machining.  All plastic machined components are produced on equipment that solely machines plastic components, eliminating any potential contamination that occurs when machining metal and plastic on the same equipment.  Our capabilities for our plastic machining production service are cnc milling, cnc lathe, screw machining, and custom plastic manifolds.  We guarantee 100% quality dock to stock, and utilize a proven, efficient and cost saving supply chain management system, as well as highly efficient six sigma production processes.  Orders are delivered 3 days early due to our efficient supply chain method.  We also provide customers with FREE design application assistance, and FREE material selection engineering on plastic machining orders.    We provide the highest quality, competitive costs,  fast delivery, and exceptional customer service.

Typically the plastic prototypes service is best for either ordering a prototype, or a small quantity component that is needed in a hurry.  Speed is of the essence with fast plastic prototyping with a turn around time of up to 1 week.  The plastic prototyping method is best in order to speed up new product development efforts.

On the other hand our plastic machining production service can be utilized for quantities large and small, and garners the full benefits of our proven supply chain management system.  With a typical turnaround time of 2-3 weeks, our plastic machining service will still ensure that plastic machined components are delivered to exceed customer deadlines.

Whether you need production plastic machining or fast plastic prototypes, EPP Corporation is here for your plastic machining needs.

The typical practice in ordering plastic machined parts is as follows:

The first cost associated with this practice is the cost of soliciting the quote and the analysis of the information. The admin time to issue the quote, phone, fax or email the plastic machined part request and collect the numbers can range from $15-50 per part depending on the company’s overhead which can result in a total cost of $45-150 to solicit three bids. The cost is multiplied by the number of times per year, which can be 2-3 times. That is $135-450 annual cost per part before an order is placed.

Instead when all reoccurring plastic machined component orders are placed at once using EPP’s proven supply chain management system, these additional costs are not necessary.  Place an order once per year on reoccurring plastic machined part needs, and save the time, as of course time is money.  Base your orders on previous historical plastic machining usage, and if increases or decreases to plastic machined component needs do occur, give us at least 90 days in order to adjust the quantities to meet your changed quantity requirements.

In order to drive business, the focus needs to be on new product development, and going to market fast with the new products.  The focus can then be shifted to ordering plastic prototypes of components for new projects.  As time is of the essence in beating the competition, EPP offers its solution for fast plastic prototypes.  Have plastic prototypes machined in, and delivered in under a week.

For more details on how to save on plastic machining through our supply chain management system Click Here

For more details about or fast plastic prototype solution Click Here

Fast plastic prototyping would be that solution.  If plastic machined prototypes can be obtained in under a week, any crisis can be averted.  Ordering fast plastic prototypes can potentially save a company from disaster, while meeting the strictest time constraints.  Obtaining a fast plastic prototype will allow research and development teams to verify that a design submitted to a plastic machining vendor will perform. The quicker a plastic machined prototype is received, the faster the design is tested, and ultimately the faster a new product can be manufactured and hit the market.  Don’t be uncertain, make sure new design changes are tested.

A plastic machining expert should be contacted for plastic machined prototypes, assuring that plastic prototypes precisely match design requirements.  A streamlined vendor with an efficient supply chain management system will be able to produce high precision plastic prototypes to meet the strictest of time constraints.

EPP Corporation has a proven supply chain system that guarantees the highest precision and efficiency.  For short-run, quick-turn custom plastic prototypes with delivery in one week or less contact EPP

· Plastic prototypes in one week or less
· Highest quality on tolerances up to +/- .001″
· Both simple & complex 3D parts are welcome
· Free application engineering available

In the new product development process, teams are faced with two roadblocks: cost and time. Specifically in a down economy a business needs to be innovative in order to stand out from the competition.

The initial frustration for research & development teams is cost. Valuable projects are put on hold because R&D budgets cannot cover the expensive introductory costs of new tooling and initial manufacturing of new designs. In today’s economic environment, corporate cost cutting is needed to help companies survive the recession. While the cost cutting is crucial, revenues must also increase as a means of beating the competition.  Of course new product development is required to do so, but it needs to be cost effective.   If projects have plastic components, then the cost of tooling can be a huge obstacle.  Tooling and molds can cost tens of thousands of dollars.  The solution: have the plastic parts machined. Prototypes as well as the first few years of production quantities can be produced for a fraction of the cost.  While molding requires full commitment to a part’s design, design changes to plastic machined parts cost absolutely nothing.

Time is of the essence regardless of industry. After costs are sorted out and the decision to use plastic machining has been made, time becomes the largest constraint.  That is where fast plastic prototyping comes into play. EPP Corporation is capable of short-run, quick-turn Custom Plastic Prototypes with delivery in one week or less.  The plastic machined prototypes are of the highest quality on tolerances up to +/- .001″.  Simple or complex 3D parts are welcomed for fast plastic prototyping, and free application engineering is available.
Don’t time and cost from preventing innovation.  Stand out from the competition through new product development. Save time and money by machining plastic components, and have your plastic prototypes delivered in under a week.

Contact EPP Corporation now to see how plastic machining and plastic prototypes can help your new product hit the market and put your company ahead of the game!