Material choice for products and models is very important and we have a sound knowledge of a range of materials’ strengths and weaknesses; what works and what doesn’t. We pride ourselves in being quite experimental and up for a challenge and we are always willing to learn. So if you have a particular material you would like us to look into we will be happy to help.
Here is a list of some common materials we regularly use.
Sheet Material
| MDF | Standard general use sheet material |
| Medite | Outdoor grade of MDF, better edge quality |
| Valchromat | High density MDF, very good edge quality |
| Hardwood ply | Standard general use sheet material |
| Birch faced ply | Better quality sheet material, better edge quality |
| Marine ply | Outdoor use sheet material |
Plastics
| Acrylic Extruded / cast | Clear sheet material, good edge polishing |
| Polycarbonate / PETG | Flame retardant clear sheet material, shatter proof |
| LDPE | food grade material, flexible parts |
| MDPE | Good shock and drop resistance |
| HDPE | Very strong chemical resistant sheet material |
| Nylon | Block moving parts, gears |
Metals and Composites
| Dibond | Aluminium Composite Material. A polyethylene core with 0.012″ aluminium faces |
| Aluminium | Good mechanical properties, lightweight and corrosion resistant |
| Stainless steel | Rust and stain resistant. Very strong |
Block Materials
| EPS (expanded polystyrene) | Standard carving material available in a range of densities from 10kg/m3 to 40kg/m3. Suitable for large models and plastic coating |
| Polyurethane model boards | Ranging in density from 80kg/m3 to 1600kg/m3. Closed cell structure gives a very fine finish even in the lower densities. Higher densities perfect for display models and master patterns. |
| Timber | Sculptures, decorative fixings, engravings. |
Machining Step-Overs Visual Aid
Machined PU foam and EPS with exactly the same model but using different tools and different step overs to illustrate the finish straight out of the machine with no hand finishing .
The image and engraved details serve as a quick reference guide for what to expect when discussing finishes.