Checklist: Component Design for Molding

Questions a product development team needs answers for, to select the right plastic or composite:

1. What is the designed purpose of the part, meaning what role does it play in the overall function as a finished product?
2. What are the dimensional requirements of the part, i.e. tolerances? Are they conducive to molding shrinkage or will secondary machining modification steps be required?
3. What level of reliability or effective useful life does the part require for the targeted marketplace?
4. What agencies are involved in the final product marketplace, e.g. UL, FDA, USDA, MIL, ATARS
5. Manufacturing and End Use Environmental considerations:
   • What temperature extremes will the component see and for how long?
     • In production?
     • In final use?
   • Is water/moisture resistance a requirement?
   • Is the application outdoors, is exposure to weather or UV wavelengths a factor?
   • What chemicals will the part be exposed to?
     • In processing?
     • In final use?
   • What stresses will the part be subject to?
6. Are there electrical considerations, is the part functioning as a conductor or insulator electrically?
7. Are there material compatibility issues for mating items, e.g. metals, adhesives, other plastics, etc.?
8. Are there fastening requirements, will threads me molded in, machined in, inserts molded in?
9. Are there functionality requirements, i.e. flexibility (read snap fit), rigidity (read not bendable), surface tension, etc.?
10. Does the part need to sustain a certain impact level or outside stresses?
11. Are there weight restrictions or weight expectations requiring added density?
12. Does the part have cosmetic and surface finish requirements?
13. Does it have color requirements and color consistency requirements? Is it a custom color trying to match other parts/literature?
14. Will the part have inserts (metal, other plastics, in-mold labeling) that will require mold considerations?
15. What are the expected part volumes and estimated product life cycle?

These are some of the questions we will want to know you have already considered. The answers will help to determine what plastic or composite you may consider qualifying in your application. With over 70,000 different plastics/composites available on the open market, the more known up front the better a selection you can make