How to choose the right epoxy and pu tooling boards for styling,modeling,tooling application?

There are so many different brands and model number for tooling boards, people often take below key physical properties for consideration:

1. Density - the higher the density the more robust the tooling board, meaning finer details are machined easily. Lower-density tooling boards are suitable for creating models and prototypes as they are easy to shape.

2. Temperature and Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) - The lower the CTE, the less the tooling board will expand as temperatures increase. Choosing a board material with low CTE ensures precision and consistency in the mould and checking fixture.

3. Dimensional stability – Dimensional stability is the key factor. Tooling boards with excellent dimensional stability reduce the risk of expansion or shrinkage and maintain their original shape throughout manufacturing and subsequent use.

4. Surface finish – the surface finish directly impacts the look of the final part. Materials that boast a great surface finish remove the risk of defects and improve the overall durability of the tool.

5. Color- some people like to choose brown,blue, green, other prefer beige, ivory,grey,or red.