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.

Ball-nose cutter finishing a blue tooling board pattern on a 5-axis machine at Shape
Lewis
CTO @Shape Group

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 multi-axis machining and advanced engineering company founded in 2014 by Peter McCool (former F1 Chief Designer and FE Technical Director). We provide precision composite machined tooling to the F1, motorsport, automotive and aerospace industries and a growing number of other sectors requiring complex composite tooling and engineering services.
About Shape
Location
Our office and manufacturing site are based in Witney, which is 10 miles West of Oxford City and has good public transport links, parking, and access to local amenities.
Find us
Opportunity for Progression
Shape is a small dynamic team requiring multi-skilled people, there are always opportunities for progression. The role might require an element of quality/inspection using a CMM faro arm, full training would be provided.
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