The Custom Plastic Fabrication Process: From Prototype to Production

To the untrained eye, the process of plastic production can appear deceptively simple: in a matter of moments, molten plastic takes form and becomes a water bottle, toy or industrial product. In actuality, the creation of a plastic product is the culmination of untold hours’ worth of work, effort and planning. Plastic product fabrication in Utah requires a number of deeply involved steps that draw on different skillsets and disciplines. In fact, plastic production is one of the most interdisciplinary modern manufacturing processes.

If you’re thinking about producing a product out of plastic, it’s important to recognize the complex production processes surrounding plastic fabrication. Plastic product fabrication in Utah requires a number of steps to bring a product from idea to fruition. Here are just some of the actions necessary to create a fully formed plastic product:

• Design and prototyping: Before you can begin producing a fabricated plastic product, you’ll need to know what exactly it is that you’re fabricating. Today, a lot of the design and engineering work necessary to develop a prototype is done in CAD programs. It’s important to consider all of the real-world implications of your design before producing it, however. That’s why you’ll need to fabricate a prototype prior to a full production run.
• Molding and casting: Virtually all plastics begin in the form of small beads that are melted down to liquid form. During the casting process, this melted plastic is mixed with coloration and other elements and then injected directly into a fabrication mold specially created to match your design. The plastic product is then rapidly cooled, and forced out of the mold, which is reused for the next product. Molding and casting is an effective way to mass-produce precise plastic products.
• Drape forming: An alternative to the molding and casting process, drape forming occurs when a technician takes a sheet of plastic and allows it to droop over a pre-formed mold while being heated. High levels of heat allow the technician to form the plastic into virtually any desired shape. The product is then often cut with a precision machine-controlled lathe or drill to remove excess plastic and finish the forming process.
• Product finishing: After the plastic is cast or formed, the company handling plastic product fabrication in Utah may perform a number of tasks to “finish” the recently created plastic product, including texturing, polishing and buffing and more. During the finishing process, plastic fabricators can apply a number of tools that yield slightly different aesthetic and functional results.

Since 1980, D&D Plastics has been the premier provider of plastic product fabrication in Utah. We’re proud of our ability to help each and every one of our clients take their product ideas from concept to finished product. You can count on our knowledgeable, expert staff to help you navigate every step of the plastic production process. To learn more about our plastic fabrication services, reach out to one of our friendly representatives today. We look forward to assisting you soon!

Categorised in: Plastic Product Fabrication

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