If you specify Polycarbonate (PC) for thick gauge thermoformed machine housings, a handful of properties decide whether the part survives forming and service. These are the values worth checking on every data sheet.
This guide is written for engineers, purchasers and project managers who need a practical answer, not a resin data sheet.
This category covers a family of products rather than a single item. In practice a buyer defines thick gauge thermoformed machine housings by three things: the base resin, the format or dimension, and the performance or certification level it has to meet. Typical options in this category include gauge 2.0 to 10.0 mm; class A painted finishes; textured and glossy surfaces. Materials most often specified are Polycarbonate, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, Polypropylene, PC/ABS Alloy, and the choice between them changes stiffness, temperature resistance, chemical behaviour and price.
In the medical and pharmaceutical sector the decision is usually driven by validated sealing and sterilisation compatibility, with traceability as a secondary requirement. Typical end uses include diagnostic packs, pharmaceutical blisters, IV and catheter kits.
These figures are typical for commercial grades and should be confirmed against the supplier's certificate for your specific lot.
| Material | Density | Tensile strength | Service temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Density Polyethylene | 0.94-0.97 g/cm³ | 20-32 MPa | -50°C to 80°C |
| Polycarbonate | 1.20 g/cm³ | 55-70 MPa | -40°C to 120°C |
| PC/ABS Alloy | 1.13-1.15 g/cm³ | 45-60 MPa | -30°C to 110°C |
Polycarbonate is frequently the default selection here: PC replaces glass where impact safety matters, but it needs a hard coat for abrasion resistance.
These figures are typical for commercial grades and should be confirmed against the supplier's certificate for your specific lot.
Density 1.20 g/cm³, tensile strength 55-70 MPa, continuous service temperature -40°C to 120°C and melt range 260-300°C are the four values to circle on the data sheet. Everything else is secondary for most medical and pharmaceutical projects.
Beyond the base resin, most suppliers offer UV stabilised, food contact, flame retardant, anti-static and recycled content versions of the same product. Ask which additive package is included, because it is often the difference between a part that lasts three years and one that lasts ten.
The route below is the one most factories use for this type of part.
Secondary operations such as printing, welding, machining and assembly are often cheaper to do in the same factory, and they reduce the risk of mismatch between components.
These are the criteria that actually predict whether the part will perform in service.
Send this list to your supplier with the drawing and you will receive comparable quotations from every factory you contact.
A new tool typically takes 25 to 45 days depending on cavity count and complexity, followed by T1 samples within one week. Existing tools can usually start production within 10 to 15 days of order confirmation.
Yes. {mat1} is one of our regular materials for this item, and we can supply virgin, modified and certified grades with full traceability. Material certificates and test reports are issued per batch.
Yes. Standard samples are normally free of charge and shipped within three working days; custom samples are charged at cost and credited against the first production order.
Standard production tolerance follows the relevant ISO or DIN tolerance class for the process; tighter tolerances are possible after machining or grinding, but they add cost. Define the tolerance only on the functional dimensions.
Colour is controlled with a masterbatch reference approved by the customer, and every production lot is checked against the approved sample under standard lighting before shipment.
Share your specification and quantity with us and we will recommend the most cost effective material, tooling route and packing method for your market.
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