Plastics, as we know them, as one of the most versatile materials that offer many polymer options in the production industry. So, if you have any know-how about the production industry or a plastic fabrication company, you may be well aware that plastics are the most common material used to create end-use products.
Whether it is a consumer, medical, or industrial product, the usage of plastic in manufacturing these products is endless. The role of plastic fabrication is not just substantial in a plastic fabrication company but also in the overall plastic industry.
Plastic fabrication and the different manufacturing processes involving plastic usage have evolved for many years. Yet, what hasn’t changed is the demand and presence of fabrication services in the production industry.
This process involves different stages like designing, manufacturing, and assembling plastic products. Each stage is managed and completed using various methods, hence completing the plastic fabrication process. Today, as the technological and manufacturing industry has advanced massively, plastic processing methods and techniques have also advanced and expanded in their variety. But with each plastic fabrication method, one particular and substantial outcome is acquired, which is to give a desired shape to the plastic material as per its industrial usage.
This shape is given during the fabrication process using a mold, as per the ideal temperature and pressure demanded by the fabrication or plastic production process you choose. Now here comes the tricky part for anyone opting for a plastic fabrication company that provides efficient services – the decision-making phase.
With the various options for plastic fabrication methods, it’s hard to figure out which is the best for your plastic manufacturing needs. But worry not, as we’re here to help you figure that out with our detailed guide on plastic fabrication. So without further ado, let’s go ahead and explore all about it below in detail.
What is Plastic Fabrication
Are you still curious to explore ‘what plastic fabrication is?’ For any novice stepping into the plastic production industry, it may seem like a simple plastic manufacturing and shaping procedure, as per the product’s industrial usage. However, it’s much more than that.
As mentioned earlier, plastic fabrication is the process of designing, manufacturing, and/or assembling plastic products using various methods and production processes. These methods or processes, ranging from company to company and their fabrication services, include machining, molding, and welding. In other words, the plastic fabrication process can be considered one overarching aspect or category of service that includes processes like CNC milling, routing, and cutting plastic components according to specific shape/size demands.
With the advancing times, plastic fabrication methods have also advanced. In addition, the plastic fabrication process offers numerous advantages to manufacturers and consumers. One crucial advantage for the manufacturers is the ability of this process and the various techniques involved in it to manufacture different types of plastic parts using plastic or composites. As a result, plastic parts can be incorporated for practical usage in various application industries and consumer products.
Benefits of Plastic Fabrication
Now that you are well aware of “what is plastic fabrication” and how does plastic fabrication method work. Let’s move forward and explore some of the benefits offered by this advanced production method. Although varying on the plastic fabrication company you choose and the fabrication services they offer, the advantages you gain can differ. But at most times, you can expect the following advantages with the plastic products manufactured through fabrication.
High Formability:
Plastic usage in the fabrication process adds to the formability of plastic products. Since plastics are popular for their properties of being made in complex designs due to their low melting point, it is an ideal option for enhanced formability results. Not to mention the molten form of plastic that is easier to cater to and form in a specific shape or design during the production process.
Limited Efforts for Finishing:
Plastic material production or usage of plastic during fabrication for creating a particular shaped product takes away the finishing efforts. Why is that? The property of plastic material makes the finishing process, like coating or color manipulation, achievable, even before the fabrication begins.
For example, once you mix color granules with the plastic granules, you can have the desired finish after mixing or after the plastic has hardened without needing a finishing process.
Chemical Resistance:
When you access plastic fabrication services, you can expect the plastic used in the fabrication process and the final product to be resistant to chemicals. It is mainly due to the absence of oxidation and reduction reactions in the production process of plastic. Since these reactions aren’t involved, plastic can also avoid all kinds of chemical reactions later on.
As a result, once a plastic fabrication company produces plastic per your demands, you can easily use it in various applications where chemical resistance and protection are needed.
Fast Production:
Another crucial benefit of plastic production and fabrication is the fast production process. No matter what company or plastic fabrication services you go with, the process will evidently consume less cycle time. As a result, the lead time is also lowered while efficiently fastening the production output. The main reason behind this benefit is that plastic can be molded in less time and with great ease.
Light Weight and Cost-Effective:
Lastly, the most crucial benefits that any production company or industrial sector demands when using a product are its cost-efficiency and weight. Now that plastic is comparatively lighter than metal, it is a tried and tested option for the production and usage demands of lightweight parts/products. In addition, plastic is a readily available material and very cheap compared to other manufacturing products.
With so many benefits coming along, it is evident that plastic fabrication and the usage of plastic products in any kind of industry are highly cost-efficient.
Plastic Fabrication Techniques and Methods:
Moving forward, when it comes to choosing a plastic fabrication company, one thing you need to consider is the fabrication services that the company offers. Besides, with different types of plastic fabrication techniques and methods, the more range of effective and professional services you can access, the more convenient it will be to pick the ideal method for our desired plastic production outcomes.
Here are a few common types of fabrication services or processes you can look out for in a custom plastic fabrication service provider company:
Injection Molding:
The injection molding technique is focused on molding objects by injecting heated material within a mold. A molding system comprising numerous cavities based on the manufacturing quantity is employed in this process.
Plastic injection molding is a flexible process that is chosen by the majority of businesses across the globe. Hence, molding is used today to create a variety of goods, including bigger components used in the automobile sector and tiny parts such as surgical equipment.
One trusted company that offers quality custom plastic fabrication services in China, as per your production demands, is Prototool. And here’s the good part, this company is one of the most trusted and professionally recognized manufacturing service providers, especially with its injection molding services.
Compression Molding:
In plastic compression molding, the plastic is heated until it melts, and then a power presser is used to compress it. This process gives it the shape you want, and then it’s “cured” to ensure it stays strong and doesn’t lose shape. With compression molding, you can make parts with different lengths, widths, thicknesses, and shapes.
This method produces a lighter, stronger, stiffer plastic that is much less likely to rust than metal parts.
Extrusion Molding:
The third most common and highly opted plastic fabrication process that manufacturing businesses and industrial professionals opt for quality plastic production is extrusion molding. Extrusion is a high-volume, continuous process for making plastics. Raw plastic is melted and shaped into a continuous profile during this process. Plastic extrusion is used to manufacture tubes, pipes, films, deck railings, fencing, etc., made of one piece. Also, this process is relatively fast and capable of producing a large number of products in a short amount of time.
Conclusion:
So that’s all to our detailed guide on plastic fabrication, its benefits, and different methods to carry out the plastic fabrication process. Now, if you are also in need of custom plastic fabrication services as per your specifications, it’s time to pick out a plastic fabrication company that guarantees quality service and cost-efficient plastic production like Prototool.
