Precision Materials for Design Models and Prototypes
ROHACELL® PMI foam cores provide an exceptional material platform for prototyping and design model creation. The combination of dimensional stability, excellent machinability, and fine cell structure makes these foams ideal for applications where precision and surface quality are paramount.
Why Choose ROHACELL® for Prototyping?
ROHACELL® offers several properties that make it outstanding for prototype development. The material is dimensionally stable with no warp or bow, ensuring that machined prototypes maintain their intended geometry over time. The fine, uniform cell structure allows for easy finishing and the creation of smooth surfaces suitable for evaluation models and presentation pieces.
The foam is easy to work with using standard workshop equipment. It can be milled, drilled, punched, turned, sanded, and thermoformed, giving designers and engineers complete freedom to realize complex geometries. This versatility supports rapid iteration during the design development process.
Prototyping Applications
ROHACELL® foam cores are used across numerous industries for prototype development. In aerospace and aviation, the material serves for aircraft prototype components, aerodynamic evaluation models, and structural concept validation. Automotive designers use ROHACELL® for vehicle component prototypes and styling models.
The material is equally suited for product design prototypes across consumer goods, industrial equipment, and sporting goods sectors. Custom-bonded blocks can be created for larger prototypes by bonding multiple sheets together using compatible adhesive systems.
From Prototype to Production
One significant advantage of prototyping with ROHACELL® is the direct path to production. Unlike some dedicated modeling foams, ROHACELL® is itself a high-performance structural material. Prototypes can be used to validate not only geometry and aesthetics but also manufacturing processes and structural performance.
This continuity from prototype to production reduces development risk and accelerates time-to-market. Design teams can refine their approach with full confidence that the material behavior in prototypes will translate directly to production components.
Flyaway Mandrel Technology
ROHACELL® can serve as a production tool in advanced manufacturing techniques including fiber placement, filament winding, and flyaway mandrel technology. In these applications, the foam transitions from prototype tooling to permanent structural core, eliminating the need for mandrel extraction and simplifying production of hollow composite structures.
Technical Support from CHEM-CRAFT
CHEM-CRAFT supplies ROHACELL® foam cores in all standard grades suitable for prototyping applications. Our team can advise on material selection based on your specific requirements for density, thermal performance, and mechanical properties.
Contact us to discuss your prototyping needs and explore the possibilities with ROHACELL®.