Material Selection

Material selection plays a critical role in determining the overall quality and functionality of your parts, as well as the production process’ duration and cost.

Metals

Upon selecting the type of metal for a project, there are three main factors to be taken into consideration, when trying to asses pricing and duration:

1.The type of metal – a critical driver in determining a part’s overall cost, as the price gap between the different metals could reach hundreds of percent.

2.Part size and geometry – determining the amount of metal required to produce the part, its size and geometry are key factors in determining the cost.

3.Hardness level – soft metals machine easier than hard ones, reducing machining time and cost.

Plastics

Plastic materials could present a cheaper alternative to metal, unless the design demands higher rigidity levels. When deliberating the use of a plastic material, it’s important to consider that it might prove harder to adhere to tight tolerances, which could result in warping of the parts.