Technical Guides & Reference Sheets

PDF GUIDE

Complete Materials Selection Guide

Side-by-side comparison of 20+ resins: mechanical properties, chemical resistance, temperature range, and ideal applications.

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CHECKLIST

DFM Checklist for Injection Molding

20-point design review checklist covering draft angles, wall thickness, gate location, undercuts, and more.

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GUIDE

Metal-to-Plastic Conversion ROI Calculator

Estimate the weight and cost savings from converting your metal component to an engineered thermoplastic.

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Technical Articles & Guides

Practical knowledge for engineers, product designers, and procurement professionals working with injection-molded plastics.

Design Guide

10 Design Rules Every Engineer Should Know Before Submitting for Injection Molding

Draft angles, wall thickness uniformity, rib design, sink marks, and gate placement — the fundamentals that separate a moldable part from an expensive problem.

8 min readRead More
Metal Replacement

When to Replace Metal With Engineered Plastic: A Practical Framework

Not every metal part should be converted — but many can and should be. Here's how to evaluate structural requirements, thermal loads, and cost break-even points.

6 min readRead More
Materials

ABS vs. PC vs. Nylon: Choosing the Right Engineering Thermoplastic

A side-by-side comparison of the three most commonly specified engineering resins — strength, impact, temperature range, chemical resistance, and processability.

5 min readRead More
Process

Understanding Injection Mold Lead Times: What Takes So Long and How to Speed It Up

Breaking down the tooling timeline — design, machining, EDM, polishing, sampling — and the decisions that can shorten (or lengthen) your path to first article.

7 min readRead More
Quality

What is PPAP and When Do You Need It? A Buyer's Guide

Production Part Approval Process demystified — what's in it, when to require it from your molder, and how to use it to reduce supply chain risk.

5 min readRead More
Cost

5 Ways Engineers Accidentally Inflate Tooling and Part Costs (And How to Avoid Them)

Small design decisions early in the process can have an outsized impact on mold cost and piece-part price. Here's what to watch for.

6 min readRead More

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