Rapid Manufacturing FAQ

· How long does a tool take to manufacture?

- Anywhere between 3-25days dependant on the complexity of the part.

· How long after the tool is made will it take before I get my parts

- The delivery period includes first off tool components, so next day delivery will see parts with the customer.

· How many parts do I get as samples

- The first 10 samples are included as part of the tooling cost.

· What materials can you mould in?

- Most engineering polymers however if the material is out of our scope of standard resins in stock we will advise at quotation stage.

· What is the largest / smallest part you can mould?

- Resin dependant we have capability in house ranging from 30-200 tonnes and the largest footprint of tooling is 600mm x 400mm x 400mm.

· What do you require to provide a quotation?

- Data in the form of 2d drawings or 3d cad files would be preferred, however we can quote from any form of sketch/drawing you can provide us with.

· How long will it take to receive a quotation?

- 24-48 hours.

· What does the £150 set up charge include?

- The set up charge includes setting up the tool in the press and preparing to start moulding a production run, this is overlooked when the order placed is for 1000 parts or over as we can recover the time in the extended production run.

· Who looks after / stores the tooling?

- The tools are stored on site at Omega until advised otherwise by the customer, please note the tools are the property of the customer and not Omega.

· Is there a minimum piece part order?

- No the set up charge allows us to cater for runs of 1 up to 1000, although the smallest run is typically 10 parts!

· How can you manufacture tooling as quickly as you do?

- Through investment in our highly skilled master plastic injection mouldmakers and the equipment they use, and through the single source accountability and ownership we engender.

· What colours can you supply?

- As with the material most colours are achievable either through masterbatch or in a few cases compounding the material, most customers prefer to make the aesthetic decision after first trials have proved functionality.

· Can you do over moulding?

- Yes and faster than most “rapid tooling” companies produce standard single operation injection mould tools.

· Can you do twin shot moulding?

- We do not have bespoke twin shot facilities as these generally are for large volume production items, we do however cater for the overmoulding facility by producing 2 separate tools which reduces development cost and is often used for material bonding trials prior to production.

· How many parts can you get from an aluminium / P20 tool?

- This is really dependant on the nature of the base polymer, if the resin is an aggressive nature and has a high wear factor on the aluminium tooling then we would expect the tools to last for up to 1000 parts in Carrs aircraft grade Aluminium and 5000 parts in P20 1.2311//2312. If the resins are non aggressive such as PP then increase the expected tool life by 20 times.

· What CAD files can you accept?

- Iges, dxf, Pro e, mastercam, Catia, step, stl.... if non of these fit your file format then advise and we can arrange file transfers.

· What is the difference between Rapid Tooling and Aluminium tooling?

- Nothing basically however the rapid tooling element is not restricted to it being aluminium it can also be P20.

· Do you offer any post mould finishes?

- Yes however these are external and will add to the plastic injection moulded part cost and delivery.

· Are all your tools manufactured in the UK

- All of our tools are manufactured on site at Omega Plastics in Gateshead, North East Uk.

· Can we take our tool to another plastic injection moulding company?

- Yes the tool is the property of the customer once paid for, and as such can be removed at anytime.

· What is the maximum temperature a plastic part can withstand?

- This varies immensely the best way for this to be answered is for us to understand the application make a material choice and discuss the aspects with our technical staff.

· Can we visit your factory / see our tool being made?

- Absolutely, the Geordie hospitality extends beyond a Saturday night out on the quayside so please pay us a visit anytime you will not be disappointed.

Please feel free to read over some of our previous client Case Studies and Testimonials