Lets talk: Injection moulding
In an exclusive interview, Samuel Guest, Product Manager at Protolabs, speaks with Technical Editor Steed Webzell about the company’s innovative injection-moulding capabilities The shape of things to come
There are numerous myths around injection moulding, many of which suggest the process is expensive, complex and requires long lead times. Protolabs is on a mission to expose these myths for what they are: incorrect. It is time to set the record straight. While Protolabs historically focused on the prototype market, today the company finds itself also meeting the production requirements of customers in sectors that include consumer products, medical, automotive, aerospace, electronics and many more. “The moulding industry is shifting beneath us and we are a major contributor to this changing dynamic,” states Product Manager Samuel Guest.
“More and more companies are seeking suppliers who can offer technical expertise, quality and speed in both prototyping and production projects.” At the heart of Protolabs’ offer is automation, which allows the company to provide injection- moulded parts in lead times as short as one day in some cases. “In this instance, we would make the tool from aerospace-grade aluminium,” says Guest. “The assumption that injection moulded parts take months is simply misplaced.” Protolabs expedites the process by automating CAD model analysis up front, a 24-hour service provided free of charge. The
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