{"id":1548,"date":"2008-07-01T16:12:17","date_gmt":"2008-07-01T21:12:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ulprospector.com\/knowledge\/?p=1548"},"modified":"2018-02-09T14:06:06","modified_gmt":"2018-02-09T20:06:06","slug":"pe-plastic-part-design-checklist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/1548\/pe-plastic-part-design-checklist\/","title":{"rendered":"Plastic Part Design Checklist"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Protomold<\/a> – Nobody’s Faster In The Short Run.\u00ae<\/p>\n

“Flaps 10 degrees\u2026\u2026\u2026check, cabin air intake\u2026\u2026\u2026check, landing light\u2026\u2026\u2026check.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Ever dream about being a pilot running through your preflight checklist with your co-pilot? Well, now as a designer, you can have almost as much fun when you design plastic parts using the Protomold Plastic Part Design Checklist. You too can be confident you won’t miss a single aspect of parts design when you use this handy resource tool.<\/p>\n

Like a pilot’s preflight routine, our checklist below is a handy reminder of some of the considerations to keep in mind when you’re designing injection molded plastic parts.<\/p>\n

And, in addition to our checklist, we’ve cataloged dozens of tips that can aid in making your parts easier to manufacture, lighter, stronger and offer improved performance. Each tip is chock full of great manufacturability pointers, including coring out, preventing sink, drafting for easy ejection, adding text, and more. Some of these useful design tips are referenced in the designer checklist; or you can download our complete Design Tip compilation volumes here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Also, you can access ProtoQuote\u00ae automated design analyses, which can help to identify potential design problems once a 3D CAD model has been submitted. These free services allow you to quickly see issues that are easy to overlook. Our suggestions and recommended design modifications are returned to you within one day of submitting your part.<\/p>\n

Try our Checklist! It’s a practical tool that allows you, the designer, to spot potential issues and correct them beforehand.
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PLASTIC PART DESIGN CHECKLIST:<\/strong>
\nDesigning with Protomold in mind<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Plastic<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Design Considerations<\/strong><\/p>\n

Are the cores and holes drafted towards the ejector pin side (low cosmetic side) of my part?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

YES <\/strong><\/p>\n

Does my part design include sufficient draft for part removal from mold?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

YES<\/strong> \u2014 We strongly advise using at least 0.5 degrees on all “vertical” faces.<\/p>\n

Do I need to add draft to my design?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

MAYBE<\/strong> \u2014 For aluminum molds, increments of .5 degrees (shallow features) to 3 degrees (deep features) should be added. A good rule of thumb is 1 degree per inch depth including cam\/side pull cores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Fig.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Does my part have a wall thickness that is greater than .040″ and under .180″?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

YES<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

NO<\/strong> \u2014 Parts under .040″ may produce a part that has shorts, voids, weak knit lines; parts over .180″ may have excessive sink, internal voids, warp, poor texture pick-up.<\/p>\n

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Materials<\/strong><\/p>\n

What do I need to consider when selecting a material that is best for my design? <\/em><\/p>\n