Plastic Machining: Using a Metal Machining Company to Produce Plastic Machined Parts: The Risks

Engineering Help, Purchasing Help on July 5th, 2011

Engineers and buyers often reach out to metal machining companies to produce plastic machined parts, thinking, “They use the same manufacturing processes, don’t they? Does it really matter?”
It does matter. If you’ve wondered whether you should have a metal machinist produce your plastic machined parts, The Short Answer Is – No, You Should Not
Here’s why:
Cutting [...]

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Plastic Machining: Selecting a Plastic Machining Vendor- Looking for the Best

Selecting a Vendor on January 15th, 2010

Selection of a truly qualified plastic machining vendor is extremely important in today’s business environment. The time it takes to ask the right questions will pay big dividends – helping you obtain high quality machined plastic parts. And even though the rules for service and quality seem to be continually evolving, getting the best part [...]

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Plastic Machining: Selecting a Plastic Machining Vendor: Quality & Price

Selecting a Vendor on January 15th, 2010

Quality, of course, is directly related to price. Make sure the vendors you interview can provide the highest quality part at the lowest price. Plastic machining vendors can keep errors to a minimum if they are highly process driven, are ISO Certified, use documented SPC procedures, and own the proper inspection equipment such as CMM [...]

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Plastic Machining: Selecting a Plastic Machining Vendor- Equipment

Selecting a Vendor on January 15th, 2010

Ask about the type of equipment the potential plastic machining vendor uses. The well-equipped plastic machining vendor will look pretty much like a metal machining shop, but the true plastic machining specialist will have equipment that has been adjusted or re-built expressly for machining plastic material. The right equipment will machine plastic using the correct [...]

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Plastic Machining: Selecting a Plastic Machining Vendor- Purchasing Practices

Selecting a Vendor on January 14th, 2010

Just as a metal machine shop is unlikely to have the material knowledge you need, neither are they going to be able to purchase plastics in large enough quantities to provide you with the best price.
Likewise, find out if the plastic machining vendor candidates you are considering can purchase materials directly from material manufacturer. If [...]

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Plastic Machining: Selecting a Plastic Machining Vendor- Material Knowledge

Selecting a Vendor on January 14th, 2010

Quiz potential vendors on their knowledge of various materials and applications. Ask them to share the information they have from their material manufacturers. Do they have any property charts or plastic material handbooks to give you? Specialists in plastic machining should have a wealth of up-to-date information.
Material knowledge is a critical area. Good plastic machining firms [...]

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