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It works by selectively curing photopolymeric resins using a light source such as a laser. (Digital light processing, a related technology, used a projector instead.) Parts are printed layer by layer as the print bed moves through the resin vat.

SLS is a powder bed fusion process. It works by using a laser to selectively sinter 2D shapes in plastic powder, layer by layer, building a complete plastic part. It is broadly similar to the metal additive manufacturing process of selective laser melting (SLM). An advantage over other plastic 3D printing methods is that it does not require support structures.

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Welding is mostly associated with metals, but plastic welding is a useful plastic fabrication process for joining thermoplastic components not suitable for gluing or other assembly methods.

The plastic fabrication technique of pultrusion is suited to fiber-reinforced plastics. During the process, a roll of reinforced fibers is pulled through a tank of plastic resin, which impregnates the fibers, and then through a heated die, giving the fiber-reinforced resin its custom profile.

Although different machines work in different ways, plastic machining generally entails cutting away sections from a plastic workpiece using either manual or computer-controlled cutting tools. Machining is highly accurate, works with a range of plastics, and is better than molding for making thick-walled parts.

Stereolithography (SLA) is a different form of plastic 3D printing that works with photopolymeric resins instead of thermoplastic polymers.

The plastic welding process has a huge number of variants, including hot gas welding, speed tip welding, and contact welding. The majority of variants involve preparing the surface of the plastic, applying heat and pressure, then cooling.

Several plastic resins are suitable for pultrusion, including polyester, polyurethane, and epoxy. Glass fibers are the most common reinforcing material.

Thermoforming is a type of plastic fabrication that resembles molding but which uses gently heated plastic sheet instead of fully molten plastic.

Rotational molding is another plastic molding process — one that uses high temperatures and low pressure to form plastic parts. It works by rotating a mold to move the plastic material around inside.

Plastic CNC machining is a very popular plastic fabrication process. It encompasses CNC milling, CNC turning, and other related processes.

This plastic fabrication processes works using a mold and a molten thermoplastic tube called a parison (instead of fully melted pellets). Pressurized air enters the parison, causing the plastic to expand and touch the internal walls of the mold, eventually assuming the shape of the mold cavity.

But plastic fabrication comprises many different methods. Injection molding, plastic extrusion, and FDM 3D printing are all plastic fabrication methods, and there are many more besides. These different plastic fabrication methods suit different plastic parts, and choosing between them isn’t always straightforward. Budget, part design, and material are just some of the factors that go into choosing a plastic fabrication method.

Vacuum casting is a plastic fabrication process usually employed for small batches of colorful prototypes. It uses silicone molds to make urethane plastic parts.

This fast plastic fabrication method works by heating plastic pellets until they melt, then forcing the molten plastic into a metal mold using a reciprocating screw. The molten material cools down, solidifies, and assumes the shape of the mold cavity. The solid part is then ejected from the mold.

During this plastic fabrication process, the operator pours urethane casting resin into a silicone mold; a vacuum then removes air pockets and bubbles, resulting in an exceptionally smooth finished part. The urethane parts are then cured in an oven.

Blow molding is a plastic molding process that is less widely used than injection molding. It has three distinct variants: extrusion blow molding, injection blow molding, and injection stretch blow molding.

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Selective laser sintering (SLS) is a plastic fabrication process and another form of 3D printing. It is principally used to make nylon parts.

This high-volume plastic fabrication process works by heating plastic in a barrel, then forcing it — using a reciprocating screw — into a die, giving it its final shape with a continuous profile. The resulting plastic extrusion hardens as it cools down.

During the rotational molding process, powdered plastic is placed in a mold, which is heated and rotated about two (or more) axes. This rotation ensures that molten plastic covers the entirety of the inside of the mold and assumes the shape of the cavity.

FDM works by heating up extruded thermoplastic filament, then depositing it in precise shapes from a moving nozzle (attached to a printhead) according to computer instructions. 2D slices of the part are printed layer by layer until the complete 3D object is built.

In small quantities, FDM is very fast and cost-effective and can produce a wide range of shapes, including those with complex internal geometries. However, it does not produce especially strong parts.

Advantages of rotational molding include simpler tooling, consistent wall thickness, and strong external corners. But the process can be slow, since the entire mold needs cooling before part ejection.

Specialize in CNC machining, 3D printing, urethane casting, rapid tooling, injection molding, metal casting, sheet metal and extrusion

This article looks at 12 different plastic fabrication methods, explaining their basic processes and why they are useful. For each plastic fabrication method, we will give some examples of how it can be used to make end-use parts.

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is the most common 3D printing process for plastic fabrication. It works with common thermoplastics like ABS and PLA, as well as advanced materials like PEEK.

Plastic fabrication is essential to most industries. From polystyrene food packaging to industrial components made from engineering-grade PEEK, plastic fabrication contributes hugely to life as we know it. Without the ability to make plastic parts, we would need to develop radically new systems of production.

Not to be confused with extrusion 3D printing, plastic extrusion is the process of forcing plastic through a die to make an elongated plastic part with a consistent profile.

Thermoset molding is currently experiencing a true renaissance, due to higher strength, dimensional stability, heat and cold resistance and at a significantly lower material price compared to comparable thermoplastic molding compounds.

SLA produces brittle but exceptionally smooth parts, which can also be transparent. It is often used for prototyping but also has applications in dentistry in jewelry.

The plastic fabrication method technique requires an oven and a mold. During the process, the plastic sheet is heated until pliable; it is then stretched over a mold — typically using a vacuum — before being trimmed and cooled.

Injection molding is suitable for a huge variety of materials and parts. Parts must have thin and consistent walls but can otherwise assume various shapes and sizes.

More so than FDM or SLA, SLS is considered an industrial additive manufacturing process and is popular in the automotive industry.

Common plastic extrusion materials include polyethylene, polypropylene, acetal, and nylon. The process also has variants like blown film extrusion and tubing extrusion.