Xometry.pro
en – EU
Knowledge & Community
Search
K
Quote & source your parts
Europe Europe
English Deutsch Français Italiano Español
Türkiye Türkiye
English Türkçe
United Kingdom United Kingdom
English
Global Global
English
select
navigate
switch tabs
Esc close

Get Instant Quote

Use our Instant Quoting Engine to easily quote and source your parts online

Get a Quote
Back
 Profile
Menu
Materials Library
Manufacturing Stories & Cases
Articles
E-Books & Guides
Free Tools
Webinars
Free Courses
Community Discussions
Create Topic
Quote & Source Your Parts
Get a Quote

Edit topic

Home Xometry Community Manufacturing Ergonomic Hand Tool Handle: Overmolding or Something Else?

Ergonomic Hand Tool Handle: Overmolding or Something Else?

0
M
4

Hello everyone, I am in the early stages of developing a new hand tool (wire cutter). The tool needs an ergonomic handle that provides a good grip and comfort even during prolonged use. I am considering various materials, including plastics and metals, and am thinking about overmolding the handle with an elastomer to ensure additional comfort and slip-resistant properties. However, I have almost no experience with overmolding. Can anyone help me or provide insight into potential problems if I decide for overmolding? Or if I decide for a pure plastic part, could SLS/MJF PA12 be suitable for such a handle? Any advice on materials, manufacturing processes, or design tips would be very helpful! Thank you very much! Max

Automatically translated from: Deutsch
See original
Link copied
Solved by Nikolaus Mroncz

Hi Max, thanks for your question. We can print in Polyjet hard - soft. The connection here is not always optimal. This would be the solution from one print. I don't know if you could print in 2 parts, i.e. the handle made of soft material such as TPU over the second, hard one? PA 12 in SLS/Mjf I think is always a good choice and certainly provides a first statement about ergonomics.

VG

Niko

    • M
      Hello everyone, I am in the early stages of developing a new hand tool (wire cutter). The tool needs an ergonomic handle that provides a good grip and comfort even during prolonged use. I am considering various materials, including plastics and metals, and am thinking about overmolding the handle with an elastomer to ensure additional comfort and slip-resistant properties. However, I have almost no experience with overmolding. Can anyone help me or provide insight into potential problems if I decide for overmolding? Or if I decide for a pure plastic part, could SLS/MJF PA12 be suitable for such a handle? Any advice on materials, manufacturing processes, or design tips would be very helpful! Thank you very much! Max
      Automatically translated from: Deutsch

      See original
      0
      Reply
    • Xometry Engineer

      Hi Max, thanks for your question. We can print in Polyjet hard – soft. The connection here is not always optimal. This would be the solution from one print. I don’t know if you could print in 2 parts, i.e. the handle made of soft material such as TPU over the second, hard one? PA 12 in SLS/Mjf I think is always a good choice and certainly provides a first statement about ergonomics.

      VG

      Niko

      0
      Reply
      Link copied
      • M
        Nikolaus Mroncz

        Hello Niko,

        Thank you very much for the information. Would Polyjet or the TPU solution be durable enough for a final product? I would need some prototypes for testing, but for the final product I thought it would make sense to work with hard plastics or rubber/elastomer for durability reasons.

        Do you know if overmoulding is a cost-effective solution?

        Otherwise, I think it’s possible to have two components for the handle.

        Thanks,

        Max

        0
        Reply
        Link copied
    • Xometry Engineer
      Maximilian Lang

      Hey Max,

      which process is best for you also strongly depends on the design and quantity of your parts.

      Unfortunately, I can only recommend the Polyjet for prototype manufacturing, as hard and soft components do not have the best adhesion and are only short-term when used. I would try the TPU version.

      Overmolding would be an option, one would need to compare accordingly, which is more economical.

      Best regards

      Niko

      0
      Reply
      Link copied
    • M
      Nikolaus Mroncz

      All clear, thank you!

      0
      Reply
      Link copied
Ergonomic Hand Tool Handle: Overmolding or Something Else?
Your information:




Suggested Topics

Topic
Replies
Views
Activity
Material recommendation for axial guide replacement
Manufacturing
Hello everyone, I'm replacing a broken axial guide component from a spindle assembly—this part sits on the Z-axis and connects the drill to the mounted machine frame. It failed during a milling op, likely... read more
B
0
13
Jun 16
hidrogene turbine
Manufacturing
I want you to make me two hulls of about 20 cm radius and a 16 cm rotor for a turbine that will burn hydrogen with oxygen.
1
61
Jun 13
Best way to mount NEMA 17 motor on 2 mm aluminum base?
Manufacturing
I'm working on a compact test rig where I need to mount a NEMA 17 stepper motor onto a 2 mm thick aluminum sheet (EN AW-5754). The base has to stay as light as possible,... read more
T
r
2
89
Jun 03
Sheet metal hem
Manufacturing
Hello, I'm trying to create a hem on the edge of steel sheets between 200mm and 400mm long. I can't find any manufacturer in France who can perform such bending/rolling/shaping with a radius of... read more
s
P
1
90
May 23
Mesh accuracy concerns with FDM
Manufacturing
I'm working on a small gear-driven mechanism for a camera panning rig and considering printing the 45° bevel gears in PETG (FDM). Tooth pitch is 1.5 mm, and the gears will be rotating slowly... read more
M
n
3
168
Apr 29

Edit topic