When creating a custom urethane product, there are countless formulation choices that will affect performance and longevity. Sorting through the options to determine what is best for your product can be a daunting task. Below are 5 tips for inventors and engineers working with urethane manufacturers on custom urethane products.
- Clearly Define the Product Application: the first step is to develop a full understanding of the application in which the product will be used. This sounds straight forward but this is often an area where companies struggle. Clearly defining the application usually involves detailed sketches and designs, an understanding of the product environment and operating conditions, and alignment among key stakeholders. Engineers and inventors should not rush through this step as it is vital to ensuring you manufacture the strongest, toughest and most durable custom urethane product to meet your application needs – as well as achieving a cost-effective solution.
- Partner with a Proven Urethane Manufacturer: this may sound easy, but not all urethane manufacturers offer the same solutions and expertise. Keep in mind that partners with a broad range of offerings are better positioned to provide support as your business grows over time. PSI Urethanes specializes in custom urethane products. Our in-house engineering and technical assistance staff help you create custom urethane products that meet your application needs and solve your problems. We are experts in urethane formulation and we offer customers strategic guidance to identify the optimal formula needed.
- Leverage Expertise: once you have teamed up with a trusted urethane manufacturer, leverage their expertise. Working with a proven urethane manufacturer enables companies to tap into years of know-how and expertise as well as experience with a variety of products and industries. As the customer, ask questions and collaborate with your partner during the design and development process. At PSI, we use our experience to provide insights and recommendations that add value for our customers.
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- Select the Right Durometer: the durometer of urethane is a measurement of its hardness, and the range of durometers at which urethane can be produced is extremely versatile. In fact, urethane’s durometer can range from as soft as a marshmallow to as hard as a bowling ball, providing a variety of options for your custom urethane product. When determining what durometer is right for your product, there are a variety of items that should be considered, all impacted by the application of how your part will be used. For example, if you would like your custom urethane part to gain traction and grab onto something, then you would most likely need a softer durometer. On the flip side, if you are looking for a slick surface, you would need a harder durometer. Other items to consider when selecting an ideal durometer include the amount of weight the part will need to support, frequency and strength of any impact, compression and flexibility needs and much more. Work with your urethane manufacturer to consider the application and select the right durometer for your specific needs. In addition to durometer, engineers should also work with the urethane manufacturer to determine other key physical properties that impact the urethane formulation such as compression set, elongation, tensile strength, and tear resistance.
- Selective Tolerance Setting: during the design of custom urethane products, it is imperative that companies define the “right” tolerances and work with a urethane manufacturer, like PSI, that has expertise in tolerance setting. A recommended best practice is to only apply tolerances when necessary and to only utilize tight tolerances on critical areas of the part. Following these measures helps ensure project success and a more cost-effective solution. The team at PSI assists customers with tolerance setting and are known for our ability to produce high-quality custom urethane products.
About PSI Urethanes
With over 50 years of experience delivering the highest quality urethane products, PSI Urethanes stands unequaled in helping companies in hundreds of industries around the world apply urethane products to their critical business applications. Since 1966, through our own independent research and activity in the Polyurethane Manufacturers Association, PSI Urethanes has stayed on the leading edge of urethane technology – including developing advances in new materials, comprehensive designs, and processing technologies. Today we are among the most respected and trusted suppliers of custom urethane products.
We operate from our 45,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Austin, Texas, which houses an extensive stock of polyurethane products. Our fully equipped manufacturing facility includes a versatile range of processing machinery, which allows us to work on unique, one-of-a-kind projects, as well as high volume components. Our in-house engineering, tooling, and custom mold shop, produces custom and stock production orders with exceptionally fast turn-around times. From conception to prototyping, to final production runs, our technical representatives and design engineers will work closely with your staff to meet your critical tolerances and specifications. You are guaranteed to receive experienced, professional, and personalized service from the first contact through your on-time delivery, with complete confidentiality and dedication to protecting your good name.
PSI Urethanes specializes in custom urethane projects. Contact us today to see how we can help with your next project, or give us a call at 1-800-888-5156.