Epoxy or PU tooling board: which one?

24.9.26

Epoxy or PU tooling board: which one?

We machine both, up to 3.6 m. A quick guide to which board suits a master pattern, a mould tool or a fixture.

Epoxy or PU tooling board: which one?
Shape team
Shape Machining, Witney

We machine both epoxy and polyurethane tooling board, up to 3.6 m in one piece. The right choice mostly comes down to what the finished part has to survive.

Epoxy board

Epoxy board is the usual choice for master patterns and for tools that go through a heated cure. It holds its shape well under temperature and machines to a fine, stable surface. It costs more than PU and is harder on cutters, so it earns its place where accuracy through the cure matters.

PU board

PU board is lighter, cheaper and quicker to machine. It suits jigs, check fixtures, vacuum fixtures, styling models and patterns that won't see much heat. Densities range from light modelling boards to dense grades that take fine detail.

How to choose

Tell us what the tool is for, the cure or working temperature if there is one, and how many times it will be used. Every board has a datasheet with its temperature limit, and we'll check it against your process before we quote. If you already have a board in mind, or want to supply your own, that's fine too.

More on the service: tooling board machining and PU fixtures and jigs. Send us a STEP file for a price.

About Shape
Shape Machining Ltd is a 5-axis machining company in Witney, Oxfordshire, founded in 2014. We machine master patterns, mould tools, foam cores, tooling board and carbon fibre parts for motorsport, aerospace, defence, marine and automotive customers, with every job inspected against your CAD.
About Shape
Location
Unit 19, Avenue One, Station Lane, Witney OX28 4XZ. About 10 miles west of Oxford, with parking on site.
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Get a quote
Send a STEP file with material, quantity and any tolerances. Straightforward parts are usually quoted the same day.
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Two members of the Shape team talking in the Witney workshop

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