Unleashing a new design for an injection molding program can be daunting and anxious, with the unknown dictating the course before you see and feel your components after a production run.
At Triad Plastic Technologies, our prototype plastic injection molding capabilities aim to eliminate the unknown and promote confidence through quality assurance and providing a realistic component before costly tooling and injection molding machines are fired up.
Contact Triad Plastic Technologies to learn more about how our prototyping operations can take your team from uneasy to assured heading into your injection molding program.
What Prototyping Consists of
Prototype plastic injection molding services at Triad Plastic Technologies start with reviewing your design file and performing a proper design for manufacturability review to ensure that even before prototyping takes place, the component is fit for production.
We utilize a high-definition SLA 3D printer to create prototype components. This specific process is formally known as stereolithography; stereolithography is an additive manufacturing process where a UV laser is used to cure liquid photopolymers into a singular, solid component. SLA operations are increasingly sought after because of the attention to detail it can operate with. Prototype components feature achievable accuracy within +/- .002 inches or .063 millimeters, while prototypes at Triad Plastic Technologies can be as large as 10” x 10” x 5” with the option for additional components to join the largest one to create the most realistic prototype.
Stereolithography’s largest advantage in comparison to CNC milling, as an example, is its ability to create a wide variety of shapes for injection molded programs. Including those featuring deep sections or complex surfaces with draft.
Other specific benefits of Triad Plastic Technologies’ prototype plastic injection molding operations include superior surface finish, design validation, and material versatility.
Benefits of Prototype Plastic Injection Molding Operations
Focusing generally on prototype plastic injection molding services, there are benefits that should have every OEM heading into a production program pause and consider utilizing prototyping operations for their needs.
Through prototyping, manufacturers can provide more accurate mechanical performance and realistic dimensional behavior of components. Even though the prototyping process of SLA differs from injection molding itself, manufacturers like Triad Plastic Technologies can determine strength, stiffness, impact, and fatigue behavior as well as shrinkage, warpage, and tolerance stack-ups.
Accuracy and functionality in your components should never be sacrificed in the name of speed. And with prototyping operations, shortened lead times as well as development windows are possible without impacting part functionality. Prototyping allows for low-volume production to take place even with early test market launches, all while the final mold is being created.
Part of the reason why prototyping is a vital resource for OEMs and other injection molding customers is that it allows for risk reduction ahead of hard tooling conversations and production. Design changes are much more cost-effective since materials are cheaper in prototyping and easier to work with compared to a steel mold. Any issues that occur during prototyping can be addressed and eliminated, which saves time during the actual tooling conversation.
Industries Served Through Prototyping
Triad Plastic Technologies serves multiple industries with our prototype plastic injection molding operations. Our prototyping work has appeared in the medical field, electronics, consumer products, automotive, agriculture, construction, infrastructure, and industrial applications.
The same quality management systems that back our high-volume injection molding programs are the same ones that support our prototyping operations. And our mission of 100 percent American manufacturing and absolutely zero outsourcing to overseas vendors is a core pillar for every operation that takes place in our facility.
Partner with Triad Plastic Technologies Today
Triad Plastic Technologies is a proud American manufacturing company located in Reno, Nevada, serving OEMs, supplier programs, and other customer bases with high-quality injection molding operations.
Since 1988, our team of technicians, engineers, and executives have worked together to continue creating new boundaries of what’s possible with injection molding – this includes prototype plastic injection molding operations. Through the latest developments in stereolithography, Triad Plastic Technologies continues to be at the forefront of what’s possible in injection molding applications. Our prototyping operations allow our customers to see a tangible and realistic version of what their eventual molded component will look and feel like.
We know how costly the upfront aspects of injection molding can be. Between getting designs correct and the costs associated with tooling, it’s a heavy toll. That’s why prototyping operations can ensure that the costs are worth it and your injection molding program doesn’t face any early setbacks.
Contact Triad Plastic Technologies today for more information on how we can aid your injection molding program through our prototype plastic injection molding operations.