Tool and Jig Making for the Manufacture of Plastic Product

Here at The Plastic Works, we offer a variety of services related to the production of plastic products, including tooling and jig manufacture. Tooling refers to the profile we form over to create the parts, normal materials that the tooling is made from will be Ureol, Resin or aluminium. A jig is the fixture used to hold the component to be able to trim it to its correct profile.  This allows us to offer repeatability, accuracy when trimmed on our 5 Axis CNC routers.

There are many methods for manufacturing plastic production tooling, so it is paramount to select the correct materials that suit your needs. When considering the main factors, it is important to think about the volume and frequency of runs, surface area and volumetric weight of the tool, and any evidence of thin wall sections. When deciding the most appropriate and affordable route forward, the durability, accuracy and lifespan of tool are also significant considerations.

Examples to consider include GRP, epoxy resin, aluminium castings and CAD/CAM machined tools. The latter option includes either aluminium or Ureol tools CNC machined from a solid billet or tooling board. This is achieved by extracting data precisely from the 3D CAD model design. This option is mostly selected for its dimensional and design accuracy.

Throughout the process, we work closely with our clients to make sure that any technical problems can be resolved before the manufacturing of the product, so that there is a slick transition from the concept to the prototype, and from the pre-production stage to the final production.

Drill jigs, CNC fixtures and assembly jigs are made specifically for the machines we use and is completed on site. This means we can make sure the production process is accurate and efficient, meaning that we are able to meet time schedules without compromising on quality.