Injection Molded Plastic Nameplates/Logos - Design

With the right design, injection molded plastic nameplates can render the ultimate three dimensional look. Designing injection molded nameplates are complex--be mindful of the design tips below to help you render your logo or nameplate to the best that it can be.

Unlike our competitors, you work with ID3 president Steve Begor in all facets of the initial design phase. Steve works with every customer until the product actually hits the production floor. Have questions, looking for alternative looks, seeking design suggestions? Speak with Steve today!

You can fax prints, however black and white artwork should always be mailed or emailed. You can also send us print/artwork on a disk; we work with Windows and Macintosh, floppy or Zip Disk. If you have CAD files, you can email or send them on a disk; however, we need them in DXF format.

 We work in Illustrator, Freehand, Photoshop, Quark, 3D Pro, and Imagemaker.

Background
Plastic nameplate backgrounds should always have a texture; textured nameplates look much richer than non-textured nameplates. At ID3 we utilize photo-etch textures. You can call out a Rawal or other mold texture or let us select the texture for you. The exception to this rule is high gloss. (Note: High gloss requires a diamond polish on the mold - much more expensive than texturing.)

Copy
On plastic injection molded nameplates, three dimensional copy can be raised or sunk. At ID3 we only require 10 - 15 degrees draft on copy, as opposed to most of our competitors who require 25 degrees draft. This results in crisper looking copy. 

Plastic Nameplates require a minimum copy height of .020" for hot stamping contrasting colors or metallics. Other plastic nameplate decorating options include Heat transfers, which can be applied to raised copy as well as flat backgrounds; Silk Screening or Pad Printing,  normally applied to flat surfaces; and paint filling, commonly applied to recessed areas needing color.

Remember that the artwork determines the results in building injection molded nameplates. If there is a discrepancy in artwork sizing and print dimensions, artwork rules. You need to supply us with good, clean black-and-white artwork - does not have to be film. Your copy is only as good as the artwork.

Backgrounds are also available in our new MetPlas - Metallic Look.

 For multiple copy changes on a given nameplate, we can incorporate inter-changeable inserts. Lets discuss this first, as there are design tricks that can be utilized to hide insert lines. 

Depending on your design, we will pick the most aesthetically and financially effective method of decorating. If your product will be subject to UV or a hostile environment, please let us know so that we can choose the correct decoration. 

ID3 incorporates the following decorating technologies: Hot Stamping, Pad Printing, Paint filling, Silk Screening, Chrome Plating, and Painting. Using any of these processes, we can produce parts with multi-color graphics that can withstand the harshest of environments.

Tooling
At ID3, we incorporate two types of tooling systems which can save you money over conventional injection molding tooling: "D Style" and "Arm Style".  However, if your job requires it, we also utilize conventional tooling.

"D Style" is the most cost effective of these two systems. "D Style"  parts require a straight draw, no undercuts and 10 - 15 degrees draft on all sidewalls. Maximum part size is 28" x 15".

On round holes, bosses, and posts  minimum draft is 5^o per side. If you are designing posts to be used with "Tinnerman"-style nuts, talk to us first and we will show you how to incorporate draft into the design for a snug fit. Parts made with "D Style" molds require edge gating. Gating will be at bottom of part, unless you desire different placement.

Note: All draft is plus dimension, if you are putting your nameplate into a recess, you need to tell us so that the mold can be built dimension minus draft.

With an ID3 "ARM Style Mold", your part can have undercuts as well as straight posts. The minimum draft is 2⁰ on all sidewalls except copy. Maximum part size is 6" x  4". 

If you require a part that is larger than 6" x 4" with undercuts then a conventional injection mold will be required.

ID3's "Plastic Ultimate" is available in all three types of molds. Plastic ultimate is the rendering of your logo in a dead flat molded nameplate. It's a difference you can see.

All Molds built by ID3 are guaranteed for the life of the product. Exception is design changes which require welding.

Materials
Unlike our competitors, ID3 utilizes several different plastic materials. Materials  selected have good aesthetics and can be decorated.