Tools & Resources
Design Resources
ETS Inc. provides a variety of tools and resources to help engineers, designers, and manufacturers excel in plastic part design and production. From technical guides and checklists to software tools and reference materials, our resources are designed to support your work and enhance your capabilities.
Explore our collection of tools and resources to find valuable information and practical aids for your plastic part design projects.
Featured Resources
- Plastic Part Design Checklist A comprehensive checklist for evaluating plastic part designs
- Plastics Industry Acronyms A comprehensive glossary of acronyms used in the plastics industry
- Plastic Material Trade Names A reference guide to commercial plastic material trade names and their properties
- Product Development Guide A step-by-step guide to plastic product development
Technical Calculators
Our online calculators help you perform common plastic design calculations quickly and accurately. From material selection to part design and processing parameters, these tools streamline your work and ensure precision in your designs.
Wall Thickness Calculator
Calculate optimal wall thickness based on material properties and part requirements
Shrinkage Calculator
Estimate shrinkage rates for different plastic materials and processing conditions
Gate Sizing Calculator
Determine appropriate gate sizes for injection molded parts
Cooling Time Calculator
Estimate cooling times for injection molded parts based on material and geometry
Design Guidelines
Our design guidelines provide practical advice and best practices for various aspects of plastic part design. Based on decades of industry experience, these guidelines help you avoid common pitfalls and create robust, manufacturable designs.
- Wall thickness recommendations
- Draft angle guidelines
- Rib design best practices
- Boss design considerations
- Snap-fit design principles
- Living hinge design guidelines
- Material selection criteria
- Assembly method recommendations
Recommended Books
Designing Plastic Parts for Assembly
By Paul A. Tres
The definitive guide to designing plastic parts for efficient assembly, covering material selection, design principles, and manufacturing considerations.
Learn MoreRequest Custom Tools
Need a specialized tool or resource for your specific application? ETS Inc. can develop custom tools and resources tailored to your unique requirements. Contact us to discuss your needs and how we can help you create the tools that will enhance your design and manufacturing capabilities.