FarnellGuitars
8th September 2013, 08:29 AM
I'm looking to take over a company that makes guitars from injection molded high-impact polystyrene. Turns out, it makes pretty nice guitars...lightweight, resonant, economical.
He's been outsourcing production of the body shells, but I'm looking to set up a shop locally to begin producing them. Ideally, I'd like to have the ability to create my own molds onsite as well. I want to do a lot of experimentation and research, but unlike wooden guitars, I can't just carve a body by hand to try out a new design. So I guess my questions are:
What sort of machine should I be looking for in order to mold something roughly guitar-sized?
What other sorts of material may be appropriate (or even better)?
I've heard mention of using epoxy or other materials for limited-use molds. Is this what I'm looking for if I want to make a prototype or test a new design?
Is making my own molds onsite a realistic proposition (I understand I'd need metal milling equipment)? If not, why?
What are the limitations of injection molding?
What sort of hidden costs do I need to be aware of once I've purchased and installed my equipment?
This is a new area for me, but I'm finding it fascinating, and I'm eager to learn all I can about this process. I've been watching youtube videos and reading articles about the process, but they tend to be somewhat lightweight. I know there's a lot more to this process than meets the eye.
Thanks for any answers you can give! I hope to learn about this field, and in turn, contribute back to this forum over time.
Edit: After a few hours' research, it's looking like I should be exploring 3d printing for my prototyping needs. If anyone has any insight or advice to the contrary, I welcome it.
He's been outsourcing production of the body shells, but I'm looking to set up a shop locally to begin producing them. Ideally, I'd like to have the ability to create my own molds onsite as well. I want to do a lot of experimentation and research, but unlike wooden guitars, I can't just carve a body by hand to try out a new design. So I guess my questions are:
What sort of machine should I be looking for in order to mold something roughly guitar-sized?
What other sorts of material may be appropriate (or even better)?
I've heard mention of using epoxy or other materials for limited-use molds. Is this what I'm looking for if I want to make a prototype or test a new design?
Is making my own molds onsite a realistic proposition (I understand I'd need metal milling equipment)? If not, why?
What are the limitations of injection molding?
What sort of hidden costs do I need to be aware of once I've purchased and installed my equipment?
This is a new area for me, but I'm finding it fascinating, and I'm eager to learn all I can about this process. I've been watching youtube videos and reading articles about the process, but they tend to be somewhat lightweight. I know there's a lot more to this process than meets the eye.
Thanks for any answers you can give! I hope to learn about this field, and in turn, contribute back to this forum over time.
Edit: After a few hours' research, it's looking like I should be exploring 3d printing for my prototyping needs. If anyone has any insight or advice to the contrary, I welcome it.