Select the Right Plastiform
Choosing a Plastiform product means filtering the range through three criteria in a specific order. At every step, you will drop a list of product, until there is only some left. Then you will pick the most versatile one, or the one that fits the best with your preferences.
The three filters are:
- Initial consistency. How you apply the material.
- Final hardness. What you can do with the cured impression.
- Removal constraint. Whether the impression can be extracted without tearing.
Step 1: Initial Consistency
Ask yourself where the impression will be taken.
- Internal shape, total impression, fine detail: Fluid (F)
- External shape, vertical or overhanging surface: Pasty (P) or Manual Putty (M)
- Prefer to apply products by hand: Manual Putty (M)
- Large volume: Fluid XL (F…XL)
Fast rule:
| Shape | Consistency |
|---|---|
| Internal bore, thread, groove | Fluid |
| External surface, vertical face | Pasty or Manual Putty |
| Large volume (>50 mm diameter) | Fluid XL |
Step 2: Final Hardness
What do you need to do with the impression after curing.
- Need to extract from threads, grooves, or undercuts: Flexible (0 to 40 Shore A)
- Need to slice the impression for profile analysis: Medium (40 to 80 Shore A) -> only if removal constraint supports it.
- Need to measure with contact instruments (calipers, CMM, roughness tester): Rigid (80 to 100 Shore A) -> only if removal constraint supports it.
Fast rule:
| Requirement | Hardness |
|---|---|
| Extraction from complex shape | Flexible |
| Slicing with Double Blade Cutter | Medium |
| Contact measurement | Rigid (zero constraint only) |
Step 3: Removal Constraint
Calculate the removal constraint from the part geometry. Compare it to the product’s maximum tolerance.
Eliminate any product whose max constraint is less than or equal to your calculated value.
Example:
- Shape: internal thread, bore 16 mm, minor diameter 14 mm
- Constraint: (1 − 14 / 16) × 100 = 12.5%
- Need: total internal impression, likely slice for profile
Filter 1: Internal shape → Fluid
Filter 2: Need slicing → Medium hardness preferred, Flexible acceptable if no slice needed
Filter 3: 12.5% constraint → F50 (10%) eliminated. F20 (30%) eligible.
Result: F20 is the natural choice. It is Fluid, Flexible, and tolerates 30% constraint.
When the Choice Is Not Obvious
Most of the time, there will be an obvious choice for your problematic, but, in some cases, you won’t be in a situation that fit the standard filters:
- High constraint + need slicing: Flexible products tolerate extraction but are to flexible to be sliced properly. Medium products slice well but may not tolerate the constraint. You must choose which requirement is more important.
- High constraint + need contact measurement: Rigid products cannot be extracted from complex shapes. You must use a Flexible or Medium product and measure without contact.
- Temperature extremes: Standard products are optimized for 15°C to 25°C. Outside this range, polymerization time shifts. For very hot or cold environments, consult the technical sheet or contact support.
The Plastiform Finder
If you prefer a guided process, the Plastiform Finder asks questions until it finds the best product for your situation. It handles the filtering automatically.
The Finder covers roughly 95% of applications. For the remaining 5%, contact a Plastiform Expert to get customized recommendations.
