How to choose metal material or plastic material in parts processing? What are the advantages of both?

Every industry and application is different, but metal parts often look and feel better than plastic parts. Metals provide the appearance of shine and lustre, as well as strength and durability. Plastics are very useful, but metalworking tends to give better overall quality.

On the other hand, plastic machined parts are generally much cheaper to manufacture than metal parts. Raw materials are generally less expensive, and manufacturing processes such as injection molding make it easy to manufacture thousands of plastic parts at low cost in a very short period of time. Additionally, plastics are generally much lighter than metals, making them essential in applications where components must remain lightweight.

However, how to choose metal material or plastic material in part processing? What are the advantages of both? What if a part needs to look like metal or metal on a surface, but still remain lightweight and affordable? Fortunately, there are several smart processes we can use to make parts that are plastic on the inside and metal on the outside. It's not magic, but it's very, very useful.

These processes can be grouped under the general name of metallization or metallization. During metallization, a metallic coating is applied to the surface of a part, giving it a new metallic surface layer that can be aesthetic, functional, or both.

We have years of experience adding metal coatings to parts of all shapes and sizes. Prototype or end-use parts, a well-applied metallized finish can be the difference between a successful part and an unsuccessful one.

Why Metallize Components?

Metalworking processes are capable of radically changing the appearance of a part. For example, certain metalworking parts can be transformed into something smooth and shiny with a relatively inexpensive metallization process. This is especially useful for consumer products, where appearance is often as important as function.

In addition to aesthetics, metalworking can have a major impact on the functionality of a part. Because metalworking has different physical properties than plastics processing, metalworking coatings can have the effect of adding a protective layer to consumable parts. Metallic coatings are abrasion resistant, making the metallization process available for the most physically demanding components.

Another important property of metalworking is their ability to conduct electricity. By adding metal coatings to plastic machined parts, manufacturers can adjust conductivity levels for purposes such as electromagnetic shielding. The process opens new doors for engineers to manufacture electrical and mechanical components.

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