Making your own acetate blocks

[JERRY HUANG]

For some of us want to make custom acetate frames----other than importing standard colors from China or India, mazzucchelli from Italy also offers many interesting patterns and colors. Just in case you want to create your own, here is the link to buy the extrusion acetate material. They are in the states: http://www.eastman.com/literature_center/p/ppc100.pdf

[Chris Ryser]

For some of us want to make custom acetate frames----other than importing standard colors from China or India, mazzucchelli from Italy also offers many interesting patterns and colors. Just in case you want to create your own, here is the link to buy the extrusion acetate material.

They are in the states: http://www.eastman.com/literature_center/p/ppc100.pdf

interesting: Exert

Compounding: custom recipes

A fully formulated Tenite™ cellulosic plastic will contain one of the three base esters and a variety of additives (such as plasticizers, heat stabilizers, slip agents, and
(ultraviolet inhibitors) compounded into a homogeneous mixture. To ensure high quality formulations, each additive passes separate quality tests before it is used.

A custom compounder of cellulosics since 1932, Eastman produces Tenite acetate, butyrate, and propionate in a variety of formulations and plasticizer content ranging from 3% to 35% in 3.2-mm ('h-in.) pellets for molding and extrusion.

[JERRY HUANG]

Making acetate blocks is pretty much the same as making pizza dough! It requires melting pellets, blending in color dye, mixing acetone wetting agent and extrude it out of a 180 mm x 6 mm fixture! It costs around $12 to $22 each block (depends on color and pattern) from Mazzuccheli . DIY could save more than 90% of the cost plus unlimited color options!

[Chris Ryser]

Making acetate blocks is pretty much the same as making pizza dough! It requires melting pellets, blending in color dye, mixing acetone wetting agent and extrude it out of a 180 mm x 6 mm fixture! It costs around $12 to $22 each block (depends on color and pattern) from Mazzuccheli . DIY could save more than 90% of the cost plus unlimited color options!

If making plastic blocks is as easy as making pizza, is not as easy to extrude them, as a machine to do it costs even in China:

Manufacturer price of plastic extrusion machine in Taizhou, China, costs

US $32,000 - 46,900 / Set |1 Set/Sets price of plastic extrusion machine(Min. Order)


source: =============>
https://www.alibaba.com/product-deta...03520.html?s=p

So we can assume that you also have to purchase the chemicals, on which you are forced by chemical suppliers, to purchase minimum quantities of chemicals which often are in the quantity of thousands of Dollars to justify a decent resale value of the finished product.

In this case of having to add color pigments of which you might talk small quantities as a few grams needed, to make a block, you will still have to purchase 20 to 30 kgs minimum.

Furthermore you will need to employ qualified personnel to handle the chemicals and machinery. If you need acetone in manufacturing you fall into the "dangerous manufacturing class" and under separate regulations and laws.

If you are not a well financed operator with lots of assets, it still will be cheaper to purchase finished blocks than to make you own blocks unless you have, or can create a market for it, besides your own.

[JERRY HUANG]

Chris, you are right about the initial investment of any new product development would require lots of money and intensive labor involved! However, I still encourage people here in the states who are in custom acetate frame manufacturing to come up their creations from head to toes without seeing Chinese hinges or Italian acetate blocks! Mazzuccheli, not unless they have the color in stock, they usually request 200kg of minimum purchase PER COLOR! On the other hand, those in stock are no difference from Other places in the world!

The giant piece of equipment from China is for mass production which generates thousands of kilograms daily! Here is the link to local equipment supplier that can be modified for much smaller scale of production:http://www.easyplasticmolding.com/mo.../ordernow.html

[Lelarep]

Isn't the whole point of a supply chain, so you don't have to do everything yourself?

[JERRY HUANG]

I think people are expecting "Made In USA" products being more unique and different than others.....!

[Chris Ryser]

I do not think that this will work to make blocks or eyeglass frames. You also would need a mold which is an expensive item.

Bench Model 150A Injection Molder Purchase includes: MODEL 150A injection molding machine, heater, digital temperature controller, clamping vise, protective gloves, safety glasses, and instruction manual.

[JERRY HUANG]

Yes, it does! Instead of injecting plastic pellets to a "mold", simply low down the temperature of the hot pot (reservoir) and push the material through a 65mm x 6 mm die!