Plastic moulding

[s410man]

Has anyone got any experience with this?

Looking for hundreds possibly thousands of these made if i can get the price right

Size is 2 foot by 16 inches and 2 inches deep

There's several reinforcing ribs underneath as they're walked on all day every day

Tabs on the sides to interlock together

They are for use on a raised floor all the dirt and water falls through while the floor statsclean

Has anyone ever dealt with a company before or even better able to do them for me?

Cheers

 

[gordon stephenson]

No picture showing,

 

[s410man]

Try again
Cheers

 

[bigegg]

Place I worked at used to get something like that in cast fibreglass.
No idea of supplier/price but might be an option if plastic doesn't work out.


<Edit>
GRP grating - looks to be about £50/Sqm

 

[s410man]

These ones are designed for sheep and are more like £60 per sqm i think that's why imI trying to find a cheaper way

 

[daedalusminos]

I'm no expert, but I'd expect £15,000+ tooling, and you'll probably be looking at something like a GF30 plastic for load bearing....which will wear the tool faster than a non glass filled plastic..

 

[Rocketman]

It's going to cost more than 15K. It might hit 15K in china. I wouldn't necessarily say glass filled plastic either.

I suppose I would be classed as a expert. All I do is injection mould tool design and plastic part design.

 

[bigegg]

These ones are designed for sheep and are more like £60 per sqm i think that's why imI trying to find a cheaper way

My figure was based on a VERY quick Google, and the first I found with a price - £109 a 2.1sqm sheet.
I'm going to hazard a guess that shopping around+bulk pricing could bring it down to £30 a Sqm.?
It's more than suitable for sheep I think.

 

[Rocketman]

OK some quick cals.

Mould machine size to run the tool 800 tonne.

Probably a 2 drop hot runner system. Single feed on that size would probably be impossible with all the cut-outs - Bruy Rubio probably the cheapest (basically yudo).

If there aren't any surfaces for round ejector pins you will have to use blade ejectors on the ribs which will be like £30 each. So you could quite easily have 2K of them.

If they are blade ejectors you will be inserting all the ribs.

Depending on the depth of the ribs you may have to insert all the ribs out anyway.

Aluminium die plate tool will last up 50000+ mouldings - due to the speed of cutting ali and polishing it that is where the money saving is. Also it needs a lot less water cooling.

Remember someone needs to design/develop the plastic part.

Personally I would find out what the existing mould plastic is and use the same. It probably has some engraving on it.

Even if it is glass filled (I don't think it will be) off the self P20 steel would be more than enough for the quantities you are talking. Aluminium would even last a few thousand shots with glass filled.

 

[Rocketman]

Another thing do not let the company who wants to make the tool and mould it design the mould part!
Firstly they will charge too much (probably hide it in moulding costs).
Secondly they will kind of have you over a barrel to use them. You need to get the part designed and then send it out for quoting.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Any good? A bit scant on info but could be a starting point for quotes?

https://www.bolidt.com/en/bolideck-decking-systems

 

[s410man]

Few things here to mull over tonight thanks all

Design doesn't have to be exactly the same as that aslong as it can support the weight and similar sized holes in the top surface

My initial thought was a 3d printed mould but seeing as noone has mentioned this I'm guessing it's a no?

Looking like i would have to be looking at 10000 plus pieces to make it viable then which is more initial outlay than i wanted tbh

 

[Rocketman]

It would cost a fortune to 3D print the parts and they will not be great compared to a moulding in the same material.

3D printing the tool, forget it.

Edit - just out of interest if there is a existing plastic part you showed pictures of 610mm x 406mm with 50mm deep ribs. How much are they charging per part ex vat?

OK so you re-engineer the part so it is 'different' but does the same thing. Are the parts just for you or are you intending to sell them?

If you are intending to sell them commercially be aware that the people who make the existing item may drop their prices which could be very easy if they have already recovered the cost of tooling/design.