Practical tools
Plastic material selector.
Start with the job your part has to do, then compare common polymer families. This is an educational screening tool—not a substitute for a grade-specific datasheet.
Tool 01
Choose a material family
Tool 02
Quick process checklist
Before changing machine settings, record these six things:
- Resin grade + lot
- Material drying condition
- Actual mould / barrel temperatures
- Cycle time + part weight
- Defect location + pattern
- Recent maintenance or power interruption
How to use the selector
Use it as a first-pass shortlist. Once you have a candidate family, narrow it down using actual grade data: melt flow, impact, stiffness, temperature range, food-contact status, UV resistance, chemical compatibility and the processing method of your part.
For high-consequence applications, validate the finished part under representative conditions. Geometry, wall thickness, stress, pigment and processing history can change real-world performance.