Plastiform Finder
The Plastiform Finder is an online tool that recommends the right product for your application. It is available at form.plastiform.info.
It applies the three selection filters for you, so you get a recommendation without working through them yourself.
If you already know how consistency, hardness, and removal constraint work, the Finder confirms your choice and applies our own product scoring.
Some products suit specific applications best, and the Finder takes that into account.
The Five Questions
For a dimensional inspection, the Finder asks five questions. These questions change with the application you select. For a roughness inspection, it asks whether the impression is inside or outside the part, then which instrument you have. The Finder is also available in several languages.
| Step | Question | Options |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Type of application | Dimensional control, roughness, protection, surface finish, holding or reinforcing |
| 2 | Location of the impression | Small internal shape, large internal shape, external shape |
| 3 | Type of impression | Complete or partial |
| 4 | Dimensions | Dmax and Dmin. The removal constraint is calculated for you |
| 5 | Measuring instrument | Non-contact, contact, or both |
Reading Dmax and Dmin on the Drawing
Step 4 is the most delicate. Take both values from the drawing of the part. Dmax is the largest section the impression will take, while Dmin is the smallest section it must pass through to come out.
On the demonstration part of the training, Dmax is 16 mm and Dmin, at the exit, is 14 mm. The Finder then calculates the removal constraint itself. A mistake at this step can select a product that is too rigid, which would jam on extraction.
Reading the Result
The Finder displays one or more recommended products with a short explanation of why each fits. If multiple products are shown, they are ranked by suitability.
If the result is unexpected, check your inputs. The most common error is entering Dmax and Dmin incorrectly. Swapping the two values changes the result.
Limitations
The Plastiform Finder covers approximately 95% of standard applications. It gives no result in a few specific situations, with very complex parts or measurement requirements.
If the Finder returns no match, contact our experts directly. A solution still exists, and it takes an expert to find it.
