Plastic and Metal Assemblies: When to Combine Them
by admin-ha
Some components need the wear resistance and light weight of plastic and the strength of metal. A plastic metal assembly combines both in one part, giving you the best of each material.
Why Combine Plastic and Metal?
- Metal provides strength at mounting points and threads
- Plastic provides wear resistance, impact absorption and corrosion resistance
- The finished part is lighter than an all-metal design
- Fewer separate parts to assemble and stock
Common Ways to Combine Plastic and Metal
Threaded and bolt inserts
Metal inserts in a plastic or urethane part give strong, reusable mounting points. Our ROLLSAFEGUARD uses stainless inserts so it can mount on existing M12 bolts.
Insert moulding and overmoulding
Metal components are placed in the mould and plastic is moulded around them, locking them in place. Learn more about injection moulding and overmoulding.
Mechanical assembly
Plastic wear faces are fastened to metal frames or brackets, making the wear part easy to replace without replacing the whole component.
When a Hybrid Assembly Makes Sense
- A plastic part needs strong fixing points
- A metal part suffers from wear or corrosion on one surface
- Weight reduction is important for handling
- You want a replaceable wear face on a durable frame
Design Considerations
Thermal expansion
Plastic and metal expand at different rates, so the design must allow for temperature changes.
Bonding and retention
Inserts need features such as knurling or undercuts to stay locked in place under load.
Our Product Design and Integration Service
We provide design input on tooling, manufacturing and integrated plastic and metal assemblies. See our prototype to production process and custom injection moulding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a plastic and metal assembly?
It is a component that combines plastic and metal, for example a plastic part with moulded-in metal inserts, to get the benefits of both materials.
What is insert moulding?
Insert moulding places a metal component in the mould so plastic is moulded around it, securely locking the insert into the finished part.
Why add metal inserts to urethane or plastic parts?
Metal inserts provide strong, reusable mounting points and threads that plastic alone cannot provide as reliably.
Can Mining Parts Australia design hybrid plastic and metal parts?
Yes. We offer product design and integration services for plastic and metal assemblies.
Talk to Mining Parts Australia
Send us a part number, photo or description and our team will source it for you. Browse the product list, explore our services or contact us on (07) 5535 2228. For the bigger picture, read our complete guide to mining parts in Australia.
Posted in Custom Manufacturing