Polishing: Smoother part surfaces are achieved using manual mold polishing techniques. Consider a part with tall, thin and curved ribs which need to have an SPI-A2 finish. In this case you should expect a significant cost increase because it is very time consuming to polish deep, narrow slots in molds. And such lengthy polishing times may also affect the lead time for your parts, potentially making it impossible for Protomold to accept your order for our famous 5-day turn.
Texturing: Given the line-of-sight nature of bead blasting, it may not be possible to texture the sides of minimally drafted ribs on a part because the mold surfaces may be inaccessible. In addition, if the walls of your part are textured it may have an adverse effect on the ability of the part to release from the mold, potentially resulting in unsightly "drag marks". For these reasons we recommend that texture be specified only on areas of the part that are drafted at least 2-3 degrees. And in fact, if your part does not have sufficient draft your ProtoQuote may not even offer these textures as options for you to select (contact your Customer Service representative if this ever becomes an issue). |