Teflon Parts are among the seemingly unending variety of parts that we produce here at Plastic Engineering.  As our customers know, we are well versed in the behaviors exhibited by various plastics as they are machined.  This is one of the reasons why metal machine shops, for the most part, want very little to do with plastics.  Teflon is a primary culprit and there are a host of reasons why.   It has a very high thermal expansion rate and hypersensitivity to heat while processing.  High tolerance parts can go from “in-tolerance” to “out-of-tolerance” if too much of our hot/dry Arizona air makes its way into the inspection room.  Having said that, Teflon’s properties remain at a useful level over a great temperature range (-400 to 500 degrees F)

Some of the primary characteristics of Teflon (PTFE):

• Inertness to most chemicals
• Resistance to high temperatures
• Low coefficient of friction
• Excellent dielectric properties (see below)
• Relatively insensitive to temperature
• Relatively insensitive to power frequency
• ZERO moisture absorption
• Excellent radiation resistance

PTFE (Teflon) has excellent dielectric properties. This is especially true at high radio frequencies, making it suitable for use as an insulator in cables and connector assemblies and as a material for printed circuit boards used at microwave frequencies.  (see cable insulator part photos below)

We recently produced  high precision Machine Teflon Parts of above average size here in our Tempe, AZ facility.  These parts are used during semiconductor wafer processing and their primary function is to drain noxious chemicals away from the processing area.

By contrast we also recently produced some of the smallest Teflon Parts to come out of our shop.  They are extremely high tolerance parts with some areas needing +- .001″.  This is not easy to accomplish with Teflon in a part this size.  These parts are cable insulators for the aerospace industry.

Customers that select Plastic Engineering for their Teflon Parts rarely go anywhere else to have these parts made.  Our experience and understanding of this material makes us uniquely qualified to create whatever parts you may need.

Please give our friendly sales team a call and let us know what we can do to help you.

Cheers -

TJ and the PEI Team

Teflon Parts is a post from: Plastic Engineering

FOD ESD Shadowboards have existed in one form or another for some time.  However, Plastic Engineering has heeded the call and taken them to the next level.  Our customers have unique and diverse applications that cannot be met by the traditional methods.  We are always looking for new ways to add value and deliver a product that the customer cannot buy anywhere else.

Plastic Engineering has become an industry leader in the shadowboard industry by striving to help customers who are focused on lean initiatives, continuous improvement, 5S, 6 Sigma, etc.  When we were first made aware of FOD and tool control issues, the primary concern was material.  ESD materials were typically limited to pink foam (FOD can be a major problem) or coated materials which can be susceptible to degradation with regular use, therefore defeating the purpose.

Our first solution was to draw on our resources in order to solve the material issue.  In cooperation with material manufacturers, we successfully developed and brought Stata-Lene® to market in order to provide an exceptional ESD inherent product.  The result is beautiful long lasting FOD ESD Shadowboards that perform.

In addition to this material, while solutioneering (Did we make that word up?)  for our customers we found that there were several other issues they were dealing with and we could help them solve by using our TPBS total solution:

1.  Sending tools out to have them traced.  Many companies no longer allow this because they have custom tools in addition to issues with tool theft or loss.  For many it is an unnecessary hassle and expenditure of time.
2. Cutting tools by hand or “in house” does not allow for electronic inventory control or reproducibility.  This is rarely reported accurately as a production or opportunity cost and should not be overlooked when identifying potential $$ savings and/or inefficiencies.
3. Shadowboards provided by the tool manufacturer will not accommodate a mixed bag of tools.  This is a major limitation for many vendors, which is passed on to the consumer.
4. Foam shadow boards were creating unacceptable amounts of FOD, and trays were not holding up well to oils, fluids, etc.
5. Customization.  See below.

Steve Jobs built his empire by figuring out what you wanted before you did.  We are somewhere in the middle.  Our trays do not yet have touch screens or Siri, but being a full service machine shop and excellent fabricator of metals and plastics, there is very little we cannot do to improve on the utility of your trays.  We just need to understand what design would suit you best.  In this blog post I have included some of the designs we have recently created custom for our customers.  We thrive on this type of innovation and would love to see what we can build for you that may benefit others.

This StataLene®  tray has an aluminum machined base fastened to the bottom in addition to bent tube features.  What you cannot see in the photo is that the tray actually has a half inch face (Sandwich layer) that is engraved with custom part numbers.  A fine looking piece:

When making an investment for this type of product, many customers take advantage of our ability to CNC or laser etch part numbers, tray identifiers, company logos, OR all of the above into their FOD ESD Shadowboards.  Once such example is this sorter tray for the F35 project:

These are just a few examples of what’s possible.  If you would like a quote please provide:

1. LxWxH of the top tray layer.  (Bottom default is .125” THK)
2. Material preferred
3. Quantity desired
4. Specify any custom features if applicable

You can email it to myself or to anyone else on the PEI sales team.

Thanks for reading, we look forward to working with you.

TJ Hale and the whole Plastic Engineering Team

www.plasticeng.com

TJ@plasticeng.com

480.491.8100

FOD ESD Shadowboards is a post from: Plastic Engineering

Semiconductor fabrication has always been one of our specialties. As our clients know; Plastic Engineering has evolved into a very unique company since its founding almost 14 years ago. Whether by responding to customer demand or innovating to stay ahead of emerging market trends, we have always endeavored to offer the highest quality products in each field that we service.

Though we have branched out to become an industry leader in several diverse areas including FOD shadow board technology. We still have not forgotten our roots. Our reputation for high end plastic fabrication is second to none and we always look forward to flexing our muscles for local companies in the semiconductor industry.

44" wide x 43" long x 37" high

Pictured in this post are multi-tiered Steel tube reinforced 0.5” thick polypropylene chemical tanks. These were designed, engineered and built custom per required specifications. The steel tubing is more of an exception than the rule when it comes to these tanks, but with the volume of this particular tank the customer needed to ensure an appropriate level of confidence that the tank would last for many years without the slightest possibility of a leak or rupture. Polypropylene is a great choice for semiconductor fabrication for a variety of reasons.

1) It is a low cost semi crystalline commodity plastic.

2) Excellent electrical properties, outstanding abrasion and chemical resistance.

3) Ease of use. Cutting, machining, hot air or nitrogen welding, finishing

4) High melt temperature (160°-170°C)

5) Low moisture absorption

6) USDA/FDA Approved

Common other uses for this material in semiconductor fabrication include, wet benches, cabinets, fume hoods and ducts, acid tank/linings, etching rinse tubs, front end bath/rinse stations, etc.

It is sobering to think that in addition to being one of the most popular materials in this industry….polypropylene is incredibly versatile in that you are probably not aware how often you are benefitting from it. Polypropylene was “discovered” in the mid 1950’s and since that time has been incorporated into everything from cups, bottles, pails, rope, carpeting, clothing, furniture, and even medical implants. It is one of the most common injection molded materials on the planet and is not very susceptible to material fatigue, which is why it is great for “living hinges” like the top caps of tic tacs. There isn’t room in one post for all the uses that this versatile material has.

Whether you have a need for simple plastic welding or full wet process station design/build/repair; Get it done right the first time by working with the professionals at Plastic Engineering, Inc. Please call our office OR upload files directly to our website for a custom quote.

Much has been made of economic uncertainty especially with regard to semiconductor fabrication and the industry as a whole; however we at Plastic Engineering are confident that its greatest days are still ahead especially in the valley of the sun. Thank you for visiting our site. Let’s make it a great 2012!

Cordially,

TJ Hale and the whole Plastic Engineering Team

www.plasticeng.com

TJ@plasticeng.com

480.491.4100 x216

Tempe, AZ

Semiconductor Fabrication is a post from: Plastic Engineering

The 32nd National Aerospace FOD Prevention Conference will be held in Dallas, Texas on August 16th through August 18th.

Plastic Engineering will be hosting FOD product exhibits and demonstrations in Booths 109 and 116 to introduce our excellent FOD product lines. Contact FOD Field Specialist, TJ Hale, at 480-650-1976 or email him at tj@plasticeng.com if you are planning to attend the show and would like to meet with someone to see new products for FOD Prevention. See the new Portable Light Case Box System, FOD Bags and FOD Signs as well as our other FOD and Tool Control Products.

If you have never attended the show before, you are in for a real treat!  Here’s some details from their brochure:

Conference Description:  The annual conference objective is to make the industry aware of the need to prevent foreign object debris/damage from our aviation/aerospace vehicles, airports, runways, manufacturing shops, flight lines and all aspects of aerospace operations. The conference provides an effective forum for the exchange of ideas, solutions, expertise; and is a key resource for information, training, and support. Visit www.nafpi.com for more conference information.

Who should Attend: Anyone who has an interest in flight safety. This conference attracts major industry representatives from: Airlines, Airports, Cargo Haulers, Aircraft Manufacturing & Repair, Military, Space, Support Industries, and many others from Aviation organizations.

Exhibitors:
Companies with products or services which increase flight safety & FOD prevention. Examples: borescopes, cameras, lights, tools, toolkits/toolcontrol, FOD detection systems, aircraft protective devices, personal protective equipment, wildlife control, runway sweepers, vacuums, etc…Companies also exhibit to showcase their FOD prevention programs, products and services.

Conference Program: NAFPI and this year’s event sponsor’s invite’s everyone to come to Texas and take part in the 32nd National Aerospace FOD Prevention Conference to see the latest FOD prevention techniques, equipment, and technological advancements used in the industry to prevent FOD, promote awareness, and combat a common enemy. Experience three days of facilitated discussion tracks, keynote presentations, learning sessions (workshops), benchmarking tours, and exhibits. Network and share proven methods and best shop practices of preventing FOD throughout the aviation/aerospace industry. FOD can comf in many different forms, and produce disastrous effects if not identified and corrected.

Special Program:  Attention Airlines and Airports:   NAFPI will be presenting a workshop on the new A/CNo150/5210-24 “Airport FOD Management”. Discussion will include a review and understanding of the requirements.

Special Program: Attention Aviation and Aerospace: NAFPI will be presenting a workshop soliciting industry feedback and recommendations for updating the NAFPI Guideline. This is your opportunity to add comments and suggestions to the NAFPI Board!

Contact  for Conference:  Andrew Kenney at (321) 799-6168, FAX (321) 799-7235 email: kenneyam@usa-spaceops.com or Richard Bell at (310) 813-8744, FAX (310) 812-4269 email: rb.bell@ngc.com

See Plastic Engineering in Booths 109 & 116 exhibiting their FOD products, Tool Control, FOD Signs, FOD Bags, and demonstrating the new NEXT GENERATION PORTABLE LITE BOX – LCBS (Lite Case Box System).  This portable lite box brings your tool control issues under control with customized tool tray inserts you design!

Stop by our booths at the FOD Prevention Conference in Dallas to see our products and talk to our FOD Field Specialists.  Call TJ Hale at 480-650-1976  or send him an email at tj@plasticeng.com to set up a special time to review our product lines or drop by the booth anytime during the show.   You can preview our extensive lines of FOD and Tool Control products on our websites at www.plasticeng.com or www.gotfod.com.   We look forward to seeing you there!

32nd National Aerospace FOD Prevention Conference is a post from: Plastic Engineering

Look what’s happening with our friends at Ensinger!

News from Ensinger is a post from: Plastic Engineering

Hello,

My name is Trent Powell and I am part of the Executive staff here at Plastic Engineering. I will be traveling to Salt Lake City Utah in the month of June. If you would like for me to present any information in person please contact me at 480-491-8100 x200 or trent@plasticeng.com . My schedule will permit time from Weds. 8th thru Fri. 10th. Our capabilities include CNC machining, fabrication, distribution of plastics and our FOD product lines.

Thank you,
Trent Powell
Plastic Engineering
Vice President

Open Letter to Customers is a post from: Plastic Engineering

PLASTIC ENGINEERING, INC., one of the premier plastic and metal parts manufacturers in the United States welcomes you to this ongoing discussion of materials, precision machining processes and technical innovations in the world of CNC machining of plastic and metal. We are committed to supporting your projects with excellent service and high performance quality parts – whether you need prototypes or long run production, we are ready to serve you.

In addition,  PLASTIC ENGINEERING, INC,  is also a premier distributor for technical plastic materials.  We want to work closely with you so to develop and produce high quality plastic or machined metal parts with the goal of being on time and on budget. With over 26 years of experience and reliability, we can bring a level of design and manufacturing expertise to your CNC machining projects.

PLASTIC ENGINEERING, INC., the model for excellence in plastic fabrication and metal machining, is committed to supporting your specific needs with outstanding service and high performance quality products.

Our friendly and professional staff are eager for the opportunity to discuss with you your current plastic needs and how we would best be able to assist you.   We look forward to earning your business! Please  don’t hesitate to call us about any plastic fabrication or metal machining projects you are planning. Thank you for your time and interest in PLASTIC ENGINEERING, INC.

Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates, or subscribe to this blog for news about CNC machining, Plastics Fabrication and Metal Machining.

Welcome to Plastic Engineering is a post from: Plastic Engineering