Custom Plastic Parts Manufacturing by Xometry

Custom plastic parts manufacturing revolves around crafting tailored plastic components to meet the unique specifications and requirements of diverse industries and applications. This process involves the creation of distinct molds and the meticulous selection of materials, ensuring the production of parts or products that precisely align with your needs. In contrast to some other industrial fabrication methods, custom plastic parts manufacturing offers an array of advantages, with only a few disadvantages that can be easily addressed through thoughtful planning.

Xometry offers the highest quality custom plastic parts for a variety of applications in different industries. Our expansive manufacturing network, coupled with our vast manufacturing experience, ensures that parts manufactured with our custom plastic parts services are made to the highest standards.

Plastic Injection Molding

Plastic injection molding is a cornerstone of our manufacturing capabilities. This process involves injecting molten plastic material into a multi-piece mold cavity. Once the plastic cools and solidifies within the mold, it is removed, resulting in the production of the desired plastic component. Injection molding services offer several advantages, including high production speed, accuracy, and versatility in design.

Blow Molding

The blow molding process involves inflating a hollow plastic parison (a plastic tube) into a mold cavity, where it takes on the shape of the mold. Once the plastic cools and solidifies within the mold, it is removed, resulting in the production of various hollow plastic products such as bottles and containers. Our blow molding service, subject to availability, offers excellent cost-efficiency for producing hollow, lightweight plastic items in large volumes.

Precision Molding

Our precision molding services take the principles of injection molding to the next level. Precision molding is characterized by even tighter tolerances and greater attention to detail. It's ideal for applications in which the utmost precision and consistency are required.

Plastic Extrusion

Plastic extrusion is a process in which the plastic material is forced through a die to create continuous profiles with consistent cross-sections. This method is often used for producing items like tubing, pipes, and certain types of seals and gaskets. Start a new Plastic Extrusion quote.

Plastic Machining

When intricate or specialized plastic components are needed, our plastic machining services are sought after. This process involves the removal of material from a plastic workpiece using various cutting tools. Plastic machining allows for the creation of complex shapes and precise dimensions.

Plastic Prototyping Services

We understand the importance of prototyping in the product development cycle. Our plastic prototyping services allow clients to test and evaluate designs before committing to full-scale production. Iterative processes such as 3D printing and our urethane casting services help identify potential design issues early on and ensure that the final product meets all requirements in the most efficient way possible.

Our experienced team collaborates closely with clients to optimize designs for manufacturability, cost-effectiveness, and performance. This early-stage consultation ensures that the custom plastic parts meet their intended purpose while minimizing production challenges.

In addition to manufacturability feedback, we help clients select the proper manufacturing process, materials, and tooling strategies. Once the manufacturing process is finalized and the custom mold is designed and produced, we run and ship T1 samples. Manufacturing starts when the client gives the go-ahead after assessing the functionality and quality of the sample pieces. Final components are then produced and inspected throughout the process to ensure quality control and delivered according to the established or required delivery schedule. Our prototype molding services are a great starting place to test the market before scaling up to higher production volume tooling, which Xometry can assist you with.

HDPE

HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) is a widely used thermoplastic, known for its good strength-to-weight ratio, high tensile strength, high resistance to impacts, and high melting point. It is commonly used for wood composites, 3D printing filaments, and everyday objects such as: milk jugs, cutting boards, and plastic pipes. 

Polypropylene

Polypropylene (PP) is a chemically resistant, food-safe thermoplastic. These two characteristics make it ideal for packaging, in which PP is most widely used. It is also resistant to high temperatures, with an excellent strength-to-weight ratio, and is fairly low cost compared to other plastics. Other common uses for PP are in the automotive industry, for parts such as bumpers, the medical industry for syringes and tubing, and in consumer goods such as disposable cutlery and clothes hangers.

PVC

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) is known for its chemical resistance, affordability, and electrical insulation properties. It is commonly used for pipes in plumbing and construction, as well as in the electrical industry in electrical cables, wiring conduits, and insulation. Other properties of PVC are its thermal stability, fire resistance, and durability.

ABS

ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is a versatile thermoplastic known for its excellent impact resistance, strength, and durability. It's commonly used in automotive parts, electronic housings, and consumer goods like toys and kitchen appliances due to its ability to withstand mechanical stress and provide a smooth surface finish.

Acetal

Acetal, also known as POM (Polyoxymethylene), is a thermoplastic prized for its low friction, high stiffness, and excellent dimensional stability. It's frequently employed in engineering applications, such as: gears, bearings, and bushings, in which precision and wear resistance are crucial.

Nylon 6 and Nylon 66

Nylon 6 and Nylon 66 are thermoplastics known for their exceptional tensile strength, heat resistance, and abrasion resistance. They find use in a wide range of applications, including: automotive components, textiles, and industrial parts, in which their resilience and flexibility are advantageous.

PBT

PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate) is a thermoplastic material recognized for its excellent electrical insulating properties and resistance to heat, chemicals, and moisture. It is commonly employed in electrical connectors, automotive components, and the production of precision parts requiring dimensional stability.

Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate is a thermoplastic with outstanding impact resistance and optical clarity. Its versatility makes it suitable for diverse applications, including: eyewear lenses, medical devices, electronic housings, and automotive components, in which transparency and durability are vital.

Bespoke Solutions

A big advantage of custom plastic parts is that you can get parts that are completely customized to your needs. This allows you to make parts suited for your design, instead of having to tailor your design to off-the-shelf components that are available. Custom plastic part manufacturing can boast remarkable production speeds. Once the initial setup is complete, the process can be optimized or even automated, enabling numerous products and parts to cycle through production rapidly. This quick turnaround is especially advantageous for meeting tight project timelines and production demands.

Cost Effective

One of the primary advantages of custom plastic parts is their cost-effectiveness. The process relies heavily on automation once the initial setup is done, resulting in lower labor costs. This can significantly reduce overall production expenses, making it an attractive option for businesses aiming to maximize cost-efficiency. Also, in processes like injection molding, high-volume production runs lead to significant cost savings due to economies of scale.

Less Complex Assemblies

Another notable advantage is the simplification of assemblies. Custom parts designed to fit your exact application can help reduce the number of off-the-shelf components needed in your assemblies. Reducing part count and overall complexity can save time during assembly processes, which can help save costs. Using less off-the-shelf components also reduces risk and reliance on pieces that are prone to running out of stock, which can result in time-consuming delays when shortages occur.

Wear Resistance

Custom plastic parts can be engineered with specific wear-resistant properties. Selecting materials and designs optimized for durability can mitigate wear and tear, extending the life span of your components and reducing the frequency of replacements. This enhances the reliability and longevity of your systems or products. 

High Accuracy & Repeatability

Plastic parts can be created with exceptional precision. Processes like injection molding can produce parts with incredible accuracy, down to as fine as 0.005 inches. Moreover, the process is highly consistent and repeatable, ensuring reliable product quality across the entire production run.

Versatility

Custom plastic part creation offers unmatched versatility. Manufacturers have a wide range of options regarding shapes, materials, additives, colors, details, and finishes. This flexibility enables the production of diverse and complex components tailored to specific requirements.

Efficiency

Minimal finishing is typically required, optimizing manufacturing time. Additionally, the ability to recycle and reuse scrap materials contributes to improved material efficiency, reducing waste and costs.

Custom plastic parts offer numerous benefits in terms of design flexibility and functionality. However, clients should be aware of several disadvantages and limitations associated with their production, including cost considerations, production lead times, and various challenges.

Costs Considerations

A notable drawback of custom plastic part manufacturing is the relatively high initial setup costs, primarily driven by mold tooling expenses. Creating molds tailored to specific designs and requirements can be a substantial up-front investment that some businesses may find challenging.

Potentially Longer Lead Times

Achieving accuracy and precision in custom plastic parts requires careful prototyping and meticulous tooling. As a result, the lead time for custom projects may be longer than expected, potentially affecting project schedules and deadlines.

Modifications

Once molds are created, later-stage modifications can be labor-intensive, time-consuming, or costly to implement. The use of steel molds, while durable, can pose challenges when adjustments are needed, impacting flexibility during the production process.

Technical Considerations Influencing Design

While custom plastic part manufacturing offers significant design freedom, there are technical limitations to consider. In some cases, the complexity of a design may affect the feasibility of production, necessitating design revisions to accommodate manufacturing requirements.

1. Automotive Industry: In the automotive sector, we provide custom plastic parts for various applications, including: interior components, exterior trims, dashboard elements, and engine components. 
2. Aerospace Industry: Xometry delivers custom plastic parts critical to the aerospace industry's demanding needs. These components find applications in aircraft interiors, avionics, and even structural elements.
3. Medical Industry: We produce custom plastic parts for: medical devices, laboratory equipment, and diagnostic tools. 
4. Consumer Electronics: Our custom plastic parts are integral to the consumer electronics sector, featuring products such as: smartphones, laptops, and home appliances. These components offer aesthetic appeal, structural integrity, and functionality to enhance the user experience.

Beyond these core sectors, our custom plastic parts cater to an array of applications in industries like: telecommunications, industrial equipment, and robotics. Whether it's intricate housings, connectors, or specialized components, our parts are tailored to meet the specific requirements of each industry.

At Xometry, our dedication to quality assurance is evident through our ISO certifications, rigorous testing, and strict adherence to industry quality standards. As an ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485, and AS9100D-certified manufacturing company, we operate under a robust quality management system that emphasizes efficiency and continuous improvement. Our rigorous testing processes, spanning from material selection to final product inspection, guarantee that each custom plastic part meets the highest standards. We also take industry quality standards seriously, ensuring that our cutting-edge facility and technology align seamlessly with specific industry guidelines. Our commitment to quality assurance ensures top-tier custom plastic parts across diverse sectors, including: the automotive, aerospace, and medical industries.