 
 <br> 
<b>Designing Plastics Parts for Assembly</b> 
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<p align="right"><b>Preface to 6th Edition</b></p>      
<p align="right"><i>Jeff Lubbers, PE,</i></p> 
<p align="right"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.mbusi.com">Mercedes-Benz U.S. International</a></p> 
<p align="right">2006, Tuscaloosa, AL</p> 
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<img src="http://ets-corp.com/images/dppa6.gif" alt="Designing Plastics Parts for Assembly" width="282" height="380" /></p> 
 
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         <p>As
a design engineer in the automotive industry, I have experienced firsthand how
powerful a resource Paul Tres&#180; <i>Designing Plastic Parts for Assembly</i> can be.
Not only does the text cover the general
properties of most plastics; it also utilizes contemporary, real&#8211world examples
to illustrate how these properties impact product design. The book is an
excellent reference for experienced engineers and, at the same time, it does a
superb job of educating the novice designer. A noteworthy addition in the Sixth
Edition is a new, cutting-edge materials section.</p> 
 
<p>The
book&#180;s early chapters start out by defining the differences between thermosets
and thermoplastics, and go on to discuss crystalline versus amorphous plastic
properties. This sounds simple enough, but I see the effects of poor material
selection in my position all too frequently, and the end result is always
wasted money. With the basics defined, Tres goes on to discuss the typical
mechanical and thermal properties of common plastics. This, combined with the
&#34;Strength of Materials for Plastics&#34; overview, leads the reader into the design
chapters of the book equipped with the tools needed to maximize the messages of
Tres&#180; real-world examples. It quickly becomes obvious that spending the
appropriate amount of time in the design phase of any component, especially
where tooling costs are high, is critical to the functional and economic
success of the part.</p> 
 
<p>Tres
also does a good job describing the joining techniques available to present-day
plastic part designers. His inclusion of the surface preparation requirements
associated with the various welding techniques is of particular importance to
novice designers, as it details the sometimes hidden costs associated with each
selection. From here, Tres guides the reader through the proper design of press
fits, living hinges and snap fits. Again, each design section is reinforced
with modern examples and common pitfalls.</p> 
 
<p>I
think it&#180;s worth mentioning that I have personally coordinated two three-day
seminars with Paul at the Mercedes&#8211;Benz Training Institute, to investigate
injection molding part-design and tooling issues introduced in the book in
greater detail. I have also recommended his services to other organizations
inside and outside the auto industry. Since reading the book years ago and
using Paul Tres as a consultant, <i>Designing
Plastic Parts for Assembly</i> has become must&#8211have literature for anyone
joining the interiors design department at Mercedes&#8211;Benz U.S. International. I
have no reservations about enthusiastically recommending this book to anyone
involved in the field of plastic parts design.</p> 
 
<p>Don&#180;t
let the patchy beard Paul is sporting on the jacket of this book fool you &#8211; he
is truly a gifted professional in the plastics field.</p> 
 
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 <td>Copyright ©1994-2006 Carl Hanser Verlag. All rights reserved.</td> 
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