How many parts can be pulled from a Precision Board mold?

When discussing the use of Precision Board as a tooling substrate for thermoforming molds, customers often ask “How many parts can I pull off a Precision Board tool?” That’s an important and straight forward question but the answer can be complex which we will help with in the blog below.  We’ll also give a current example of how Precision Board was used by a company to pivot from their usual theme park work into a completely new application- making face shields from readily available PBHT-48 Precision Board.  In the process, they were able to keep their business open during the Coronavirus Pandemic and pull hundreds of parts from Precision Board molds for PPE.

The number of parts that can be produced using a Precision Board mold is heavily dependent on a number of factors, namely;

  • Process Temperature
  • Cycle Times
  • Material Being Formed
  • Tool Use
  • Tool Geometry
  • The Precision Board Density Being Used

Depending on the part being produced and the density selected, Precision Board can be used to produce short runs of a few parts or thousands of parts in a production setting. That’s one of the best features of the Precision Board line. With 16 different density offerings, all available in high-temp PBHT and low-temp PBLT options, we have a Precision Board option that can fit just about any project’s requirements.

There are many ways to approach your project.  You might decide using a lower density Precision Board option coated with a more robust surface coat best fits your needs or perhaps a higher density Precision Board tool that does not need to be coated at all best suits your budget and physical requirement. Either way, when it comes to selecting the right Precision Board option for your specific job, contact our technical sales team to make sure you get a tool that will successfully pull the number of parts you are looking for.

To help explain in greater detail, we’re going to share a more specific example of a company currently making multiple parts from Precision Board.

 

This face shield mold was made out of Precision Board PBHT-48. In this application, Monster City Studios (Fresno, CA), who normally produces environments for amusement parks and props for trade shows, shifted their business to producing face shields at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. They needed to produce these tools quickly and start making parts right away.  They knew Coastal Enterprises could help.

The PBHT-48 material was on their floor within 2 days from placing an order. Since Precision Board can be cut at accelerated feed rates as compared to alternative tooling substrates, the tools were able to be machined quickly and Monster City Studios were pulling their first parts within a week from placing their order. These tools were sanded with 1000 grit and they were able to get over 300 pulls from the part with nearly no degradation and with no maintenance. After a quick resurfacing, these parts went back into production and they were able to pull 1500 parts on this particular mold before swapping out to another PBHT-48 mold.  You can also read the story about Coastal Enterprises and Monster City Studios on the COVID-19 Industry Updates page on the Composites World website from May 7th.

Give us a call at 800-845-0745 or send us an email at hdu@precisionboard.com. We have PBHT-48 in stock as well as all 16 densities of Precision Board with shipping times of 1-2 days.  Let us help you get back on track with readily available Precision Board HDU.

Coastal Enterprises is a privately-owned company, located in California.  Our manufacturing processes are fully integrated in the United States, which has allowed us to avoid supply chain disruptions and maintain unparalleled market stability. We manufacture Precision Board, a high-density urethane tooling board used in many different applications including composite tooling, prototyping, thermoform tooling, pattern making, theming, dimensional signage and more. It is currently being used in many essential industries including aerospace, defense, transportation, energy and healthcare. You can get pricing, free samples, sign up for newsletters or contact us.

Pause, Pivot, Positive: No Supply Chain Disruptions for Precision Board

Pause. Pivot. Positive. It is a conflict management system devised by Kerry Wekelo, but it can easily be applied to how businesses are responding to the Coronavirus Pandemic. Here at Coastal Enterprises we are focusing on tangible actions we can take to support you during these challenging times. We will be sharing frequent blogs with different ways you can pause and pivot to the positive with Precision Board.

This week’s ‘Pause, Pivot, Positive’ blog focuses on how Coastal Enterprises being a fully United States integrated company means no supply chain disruptions and readily available Precision Board to keep your projects on track and on time.

Coastal Enterprises manufactures Precision Board and is a privately-owned company, located in California. Our manufacturing processes are fully integrated in the United States which has allowed us to avoid supply chain disruptions and maintain unparalleled market stability. While other materials become harder to keep in stock, Precision Board remains readily available and shipping in a matter of days, not weeks.

Precision Board is a high-density urethane tooling board used in a number of different applications including composite tooling, prototyping, thermoform tooling, pattern making, theming, architectural, dimensional signage and more. It is currently being used in many essential industries including aerospace, defense, transportation, energy and healthcare.

With the fastest turnaround times in the industry, more density options than any other competitor and customizable solutions available; these essential industries are more eager than ever to learn about the benefits of Precision Board tooling board.

To find out more about how we can help your business in these unusual times, shoot us an email at hdu@precisionboard.com or give us a call at (800) 845-0745.

You might be surprised at what you can accomplish with a little help from your friends at Coastal.

Coastal Enterprises manufactures Precision Board, a versatile, cost-effective and eco-friendly urethane material used extensively in the tooling industry.  It is a closed-cell, rigid, dimensionally-stable substrate that is ideal for use in a number of different tooling applications.

Request free samples, get a quote or sign up for weekly e-blasts packed with helpful information.

Sawatzky Guest Blog: A Precision Board Sample for the Ages

Coastal Enterprises, manufacturers of Precision Board HDU, is proud to announce a series of guest blogs written by Dan Sawatzky of Imagination Corporation, which will be posted on the Precision Board Blog each month. This month Dan Sawatzky talks about a sample sign he made from 30lb Precision Board nearly ten years ago that has endured road trips to trade shows and lived in different spots in his studio/showroom.  It just goes to show the staying power of signs made from Precision Board high-density urethane (and the limited upkeep on them too!).

precision board

In Dan’s own words…

We built this sign back in the fall of 2010 – almost ten long years ago! It was a sample piece I created during our slow time in the financial recession. The sign was honoured with national and international awards and was featured in the trade magazines too. Best of all this sample sign brought us tens of thousands of dollars of paying work.

It weathered a lot of miles in the first couple of years. It travelled to a number of trade shows. It lived in my design studio when it wasn’t on the road. About five years ago we cut off the heavy duty floor stand and instead fashioned a new wall mount. It’s been moved from time to time when we rearrange the shop but it has lived on the upper wall of our workshop since then. Two or three times each year when we do a deep clean this sign gets the dust blown off along with the other 150 samples that live there.

precision board

The sign is made using PBLT-30 Precision Board HDU and still looks as good as the day it was finished.

Ed note: You can read all about how Dan put this project together back in 2011 with our throwback blog HERE.  He ended up winning first place in Sign Media Canada’s Stand Alone Sign category for this sign.  Here’s a photo from when he created it almost ten years ago.  Hard to tell the difference between then and now!

precision board

Sawatzky’s Imagination Corporation is a small family company that specializes in the design and creation of dimensional signs and environments. They tackle projects of any size from small signs to entire theme parks. Their work has garnered numerous national and international awards.

Dan Sawatzky is best described as a creative force and visual storyteller extraordinaire. His art career spans almost fifty years of magic. Dan’s passion is to design and create imaginative places that take people from the normal world to a setting of delight and wonder.

Coastal Enterprises manufactures Precision Board HDU, a versatile, cost-effective and eco-friendly urethane sign material that is particularly effective for making professional-looking indoor and outdoor dimensional signs.  It is a closed-cell rigid substrate that does not rot, warp or crack.  You can request free samples, get a quote or sign up for periodic newsletters packed with helpful information.

Pause, Pivot, Positive: Our Custom Services Save Time, Money & Labor Costs

Pause. Pivot. Positive. It is a conflict management system devised by Kerry Wekelo, but it can easily be applied to how businesses are responding to the Coronavirus Pandemic. Here at Coastal Enterprises we are focusing on tangible actions we can take to support you during these challenging times. We will be sharing frequent blogs with different ways you can pause and pivot to the positive with Precision Board.

This week’s ‘Pause, Pivot, Positive’ blog focuses on using our custom services to not only save you time and money, but reduce the amount of labor required to handle the job.

One thing we all share in common these days is that we are all learning to operate with less. Whether it’s less workers, less inventory or less toilet paper; we’re all learning to adapt.

If you’re like most companies, you are feeling the strain of maintaining the same high-quality standard of work, but with less staff. Coastal Enterprises can help! Let us custom cut your sheets or bond blocks to near net shape. By having us custom bond a near net shape step tool, we can help reduce your labor burden, machining time and overall job cost.

Having us do the work means that you don’t need as many hands working on a bonding job. Fewer hands means more time and resources for other projects, with no extra workers required to come into the shop to complete a Precision Board HDU project.

To find out more about our custom services and how we can help your business in these unusual times, give us a call at (800) 845-0745 or shoot us an email at hdu@precisionboard.com.

You might be surprised at what you can accomplish with a little help from your friends at Coastal.

pivot

Coastal Enterprises manufactures Precision Board, a versatile, cost-effective and eco-friendly urethane material used extensively in the tooling industry.  It is a closed-cell, rigid, dimensionally-stable substrate that is ideal for use in a number of different tooling applications.

Request free samples, get a quote or sign up for weekly e-blasts packed with helpful information.

Pause, Pivot, Positive: Tapping Into New Markets

Pause. Pivot. Positive. It is a conflict management system devised by Kerry Wekelo, but it can easily be applied to how businesses are responding to the Coronavirus Pandemic. Here at Coastal Enterprises we are focusing on tangible actions we can take to support you during these challenging times. We will be sharing frequent blogs with different ways you can pause and pivot to the positive with Precision Board.

This week’s ‘Pause, Pivot, Positive’ blog focuses on ways to tap into new markets, make new products and attract new customers using readily available Precision Board Urethane Tooling.

As we all figure out how to move forward in the new normal, what has become clear is that those who can adapt quickly and pivot to supporting immediate market needs are not only surviving, but in many cases thriving.  When it comes to shifting your resources to produce new products, Precision Board can help make your idea a reality.

Precision Board is a perfect substrate for:

  • Prototypes
  • Quick Molds
  • Masters
  • Production Tools

With 16 different density options (all available in high temp or low temp formulations), we have a Precision Board option that can help bring your idea from design through proof of concept and into production in a matter of days, not weeks.

Give us a call at 800-845-0745 or shoot us an email at hdu@precisionboard.com to discuss how we can help you pause and pivot to positive with Precision Board.  We’d love to hear from you!

Coastal Enterprises manufactures Precision Board, a versatile, cost-effective and eco-friendly urethane material used extensively in the tooling industry.  It is a closed-cell, rigid, dimensionally-stable substrate that is ideal for use in a number of different tooling applications.

Request free samples, get a quote or sign up for weekly e-blasts packed with helpful information.