Materials and Finishing Flashcards
6 cards from real 3D Product practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Materials and Finishing flashcards as text
What is 'powder coating' and what advantages does it offer over liquid spray painting for metal products?
Answer: Electrostatically applied dry powder cured by heat, offering superior durability, uniform thickness, and no solvent emissions
Powder coating applies charged dry powder particles to grounded metal parts, then oven-cures them into a uniform, tough finish with better chip resistance than wet paint.
What is 'die casting' and which metals are most commonly used in this product manufacturing process?
Answer: Forcing molten metal into a steel die under high pressure; most commonly using zinc, aluminum, and magnesium alloys
Die casting injects molten metal under high pressure into hardened steel molds, producing high-volume, dimensionally consistent metal parts with thin walls.
What does 'UL 94' rating indicate on a plastic product material datasheet?
Answer: The flammability classification of the plastic material — how it behaves when exposed to a flame
UL 94 ratings (V-0, V-1, V-2, HB) classify how quickly a plastic material self-extinguishes after exposure to a direct flame — critical for electronics enclosures and electrical products.
What is 'texture' in the context of injection molded plastic product surfaces, and how is it specified?
Answer: A surface pattern applied to the mold steel via etching or EDM, specified by SPI or Mold-Tech standards
Mold texture is physically etched into the mold steel and replicates onto every molded part — standardized grades (like Mold-Tech MT-11020) ensure consistent results across manufacturers.
What is 'ABS+PC blend' commonly used for in consumer electronics product housings?
Answer: Combining ABS's processability and color range with PC's impact resistance and heat stability
ABS/PC blends balance ABS's easy molding and wide color selection with polycarbonate's superior impact strength and thermal performance, making them ideal for laptop and phone housings.
What is 'electroplating' in product design finishing?
Answer: Depositing a thin metal layer (chrome, nickel, gold) onto a substrate using electrolysis for appearance or function
Electroplating uses electrical current to deposit a thin, adherent metal layer onto a conductive substrate, adding corrosion resistance, conductivity, or decorative metallic appearance.