Some of our customers often ask us "My production parts are going to be made out of metal/acrylic/polycarb/wood etc, so shouldn't my prototype be made out of the same material?" This is a very valid question from my clientel. My answer is always the same "It depends on what you want to use the prototype for." The ABS plastic models that we create with our machine are representative models. They allow you to hold the product, look at it from all angles, fit it into other parts, fit it into existing products, sand it, paint it, even electroplate it with chrome if you like. The parts can be drilled and tapped like metal/wood or other materials.

Of course the limitations are quite obvious, if you are modeling a part for a car engine, the ABS plastic can be fit into place, but if the real part was to be made out of metal, the engine heat would obviously melt or burn the plastic. If you are modeling a tool of some sort like a hammer, the plastic will obiously not stand up to impact.

Having said all that, I have some customers that make heat sensitive products out of metal. They always come to us to have some plastic parts made up, and then they themselves and and paint them to look like metal ones. These are used for market studies in aesthetics and for fit and form in the engineering department.

So, to wrap this all up, the plastic models are as good as your expecations for what can be done. What we try to do is set some realistic expectations for how and what the parts can do. If you are unsure about the application of your parts in ABS plastic, give us a call, send us an email and we will see what we can do for you!