Following are some of the main technological solutions to consider when deciding on a production process. When looking for the most effective and cost effective option, let Rational Systems help you discover opportunities for success, and help with your design concept, in order to meet the process needs. RIM produced polyurethane has the best strength to weight ratio.
Here are some of the advatages R.I.M has compared other technologies:
| CAST URETHANE | STRUCTURAL FOAM | COMPOSITE MATERIALS | METAL SHEETS | ALUMINIUM CASTING |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIM has unlimited mold life | RIM has lower tooling costs | RIM has lower unit costs | Metal Sheets requies higher design complexity | RIM has a better quality finishing |
| RIM has significantly lower cost | RIM requires lower production volumes | RIM produces less environmental damage | RIM has lighter parts | RIM has lower manufacturing time |
| RIM produces stronger parts | RIM can be a great way to achieve the mainstream look of molded parts without the high tooling costs or volumes needed for typical structural foam parts | While fiberglass can be used to produce very large, structural parts, RIM can offer the same advantages with lower costs | Metal sheets are a very low cost option for parts production, but with this process, one may sacrifice many design choices and often add piece counts and costs to final assembly, as well as material features differentials |
