Company Information
Design Options & Limitations
Materials & Finishes
Fasteners
UL, FCC, & EC Compliance
Order Processing & Terms, Intellectual Property
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| Company Information
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Q: How do I get more information?
A: Click here for the latest press release. |
Design Options & Limitations
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Q: What shapes can be manufactured with the ClickFold process?
A: The less curvature the part has the better it is suited for our ZERO-TOOLING process. Fairly square enclosures with straight or slanted flat surfaces are the most economical to produce. Simple curves are possible and by combining simple radii with angeled surfaces even complex geometries can be accomplished.
Complex Part after ZERO-TOOLING optimization
KEY LIMITATION: Compound curves are not possible. |
Q: What are the tolerances?
A: Since our products are made from CNC machined and assembled parts their design needs to allow for greater tolerances than for an injection molded part. Part dimensions and feature locations are affected by the accuracy of the CNC routers (typically +/- .004" or .1 mm) and the thickness variation of the sheet used (typically +/- 5% of the gauge). As a result the overall tolerances on feature alignment and product dimensions are +/- .008" or .2 mm. |
Q: What are the size limitations?
A: We can prototype and manufacture products and parts up to 20 x 15 x 15". There is no lower limit. |
Q: Can the product include internal braces, ribs & supports?
A: Yes, a key benefit of the ZERO-TOOLING process is that internal parts that would be difficult to mold can easily be made part of the product. Cavities for batteries, component posts or platforms, dividers to provide EMI protection and other parts can be made an integral part of the product.
Internal Cavities & Braces |
Q: Is it possible to add windows or battery covers?
A: Yes, the ZERO-TOOLING process allows us to include these kind of features at a very low incremental cost. Click below to see samples.
Window
Battery Cover |
Q: Can I get a drawing or CAD file prior to placing an order?
A: Unfortunately, no. Our engineering group is usually fully booked with time-critical prototyping jobs. Given the amount of requests that we receive on any given day it is impossible for us to provide CAD files or renderings to go with our quotes. We will gladly provive samples and images of simiar jobs instead. Since the design of our products is determined after the order is received it is our policy to offer a full and prompt refund on all engineering and prototyping work in the event that we cannot fully satisfy a customer's requirements. We are a member of the Better Business Bureau in good standing.
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Q: Can ClickFold add third party componets to the product?
A: Unfortunatly we are not setup for secondary assembly operations. Our staff are highly trained CNC operators and plastic fabricators allowing us to machine and fabricate plastic parts very efficiently. Employing them for basic secondary operations is cost prohibitive and would not be in your best interest. We recommend that you contact an assembly house to complete as well as package your product for shipment to your customers. We will be glad to ship your orders directly to a assembly house or fulfillment company of your choosing.
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Materials & Finishes
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Q: What are my material choices?
A: We are able to process ABS, Polystyrene, HDPE, Acrylic (PLEXIGLASS), PETG, Polycarbonate (LEXAN), Acetal (DELRIN), Polyamid (NYLON) and other materials ranging from .030-.500" (.75-13mm) in thickness.
Our house materials are .118" (3mm) ABS in black, light gray, and eggshell. We also stock flame retardant ABS (black and white only). These materials are excellent choices for a wide range of enclosures and parts. They offer a good balance of strength and impact resistance. A lightly textured finish hides scratches and is smooth enought to allow for fine screen prints. Our house ABS grades are custom made from DOW's Magumn 555 and 5200 resins and are UL listed.
Click here for general information on ABS materials.
Click here for material data sheets:
Standard ABS (UL94-HB)
Flame Retardant ABS (UL94-V0)
Click here for specification sheets on our clear and engineering grade materials:
Plexiglas (clear, smoked)
PETG (clear)
Lexan (clear, smoked, colored)
Delrin (natural)
Nylon (natural)
For invironmental and employee health reasons we do not process materials that contain PVC or glas fibers. |
Q: What about rounded edges?
A: The standard finish provided by our CNC routers is a 90 degrees, dull edge. Upon request we can apply a .06" (1.5mm) radius to all machined edges. All edges that are formed by a thermo-bend have a radius which equals the thickness of the material.
Standard edge
Rounded edge
Thermo-bend edge |
Q: Can I have a logo or other information printed on the product?
A: We offer conventional screening as well as digital printing. Conventional printing is most economical for up to three colors. Digital printing provides near photo quality imaging. We will need your artwork in PDF format and true to scale.
Click here to see samples |
Q: What about custom colors or finishes?
A: We carry a wide range of different materials and a variety of colors and finishes. However, we can apply a Polyurethane coating to obtain a specified color or texture. This is often the case when parts have to match other components such as a sheet metal enclosure. POLANE T by SHERWIN WILLIAMS offers excellent adhesion to plastics and can be color and texture matched to customer specifications. The coating also provides increased abrasion and chemical resisiance. Click here for coating specifications:
POLANE T Coating |
Fasteners
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Q: What are the options for installing a printed circuit board (PCB)?
A: There are a variety of options that work equally well. The choice is usually determined by form factors and the PCB itself. Click on the links to see installation examples:
Slot Mount slide or clip-in PCB mount
Clip Mount snap-in PCB mount
Nylon Anchor push-on PCB mount
Mounting Posts & Light Pipes screw-in PCB mount & LED light pipes
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Q: Can the product be provided with threaded inserts?
A: Yes, for enclosures that require very frequent servicing panels and covers can be secured with machine screws and matching threaded inserts. Inserts are heat staked into the plastic and welded in place.
Threaded Inserts |
Q: What is a PLASTITE screw and why does ClickFold recommend it?
A: PLASTITE screws are self-forming scews that are specifically designed for plastics. The three-lobed design of a PLASTITE screw takes full advantage of the cold flow characteristics of many plastics by allowing plastic material to recover and fill in between the lobes which establishes maximum resistance to vibrational loosening. In addition, the screw's deep, coarsely spaced threads provide a heavier shear area and deeper thread engagement in the plastic, further enhancing holding capabilities.
PLASTITE screws cut assembly time and costs. Exceptional holding power eliminates the need for costly inserts and lockwashers.
PLASTITE Trilobular Screws |
Q: Can PLASTITE screws be used more than once in a tapped hole?
A: Yes, PLASTITE screws can be reused repeatedly in a tapped hole, and still retain a level of resistance to vibrational loosening. |
Q: How do PLASTITE screws compare to machine screws & inserts?
A: The PLASTITE fastener has reduced lobulation on the body, is very close to round, and is slightly larger in diameter than machine screws, and in fact have slightly greater cross section than machine screws. Based on these facts, it will typically strip at a higher values than a machine screw. |
Q: Do ClickFold enclosures come with anti-skid rubber feet?
A: Yes, upon request we will furnish enclosures with anti-skid rubber feet.
Rubber Feet |
UL, FCC, & EC Compliance
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Q: Are ClickFold's materials RoHS compliant?
A: Yes, all our standard inventory ABS grades are RoHS compliant. Click here for RoHS compliance documentation on standard ABS. or here for UL94-V0 rated ABS. |
Q: What do flamability ratings such as UL94-V0 and UL94-HB mean?
A: Most polymers are flamable. Our materials carry a UL (Underwriter's Laboratories) flamability rating. Our standard ABS material passes the horizontal burn test for plastics (UL94-HB) while our flame retardant materials comply with the more stringent vertical burn test (UL94-V0). |
Q: Can plastic shield electro-magnetic interference (EMI)?
A: A conductive coating can be applied to the plastic to provide an electromagnetic shield. EMI protection is often an FCC and CE requirement for devices that generate or are sensitive to high-frequeny emissions that might negatively affect or stem from other electronic devices. We offer a UL recognized EMI coating as an option to meet these requirements. Click here for shielding specifications:
EMI Shielding |
Order Processing & Terms, Intellectual Property
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Q: How does ClickFold protect my intellectual property?
A: We will not share information about your designs or orders with any other party. We will also not sell products that have been designed for you to any other party unless you authorize us to do so. Upon request we will sign a non-disclosure agreement to that effect. A basic non-disclosure agreement and other useful advice can be found at the SCORE website. |
Q: How do I request a quote?
A: We can quote based on 3D and 2D CAD files, drawings, sketches, pictures, and even text based descriptions. At a minimum your request for quote should include the overall external dimensions and a description or images of the requires features. An estimate of future production runs and their frequency helps us determine the most economical solution. Please also include your phone number and e-mail address.
E-mail (sales@clickfold.com) or fax (1-866-649-8665 voice & fax) your request and we will e-mail your quote within 24 hours. Please feel free to call us anytime at 1-866-649-8665 for further clarification or to inquire about the status of your quote. |
Q: How do setup an account?
A: Call us or e-mail us your company name, ship-to and bill-to address, and the person to contact (phone number and e-mail address) and we will set up your account with us.
We do not require credit references and do not conduct credit checks. We require payment in advance for prototypes which will establish a credit line for future production orders. Production orders are billed net 15 from the day of shipment. |
Q: How do I get my order started?
A: Purchase orders can be faxed to 1-866-649-8665 or e-mailed to sales@clickfold.com. An informal instruction to proceed with the order as quoted (please include our quotation number), a PO # or a contact name, and a ship-to address is all we need.
You will receive an order confirmation within 24 h of your order and in the case of prototype orders it will be accompanied by an invoice for the deposit. |
Q: How do I participate in the design process?
A: Upon receipt of your order one of our product designers will call or e-mail you to review the product and discuss the design requirements. Within 3 days typically you will receive a 3D CAD file that you can either open in your CAD software or view using e-drawings (a free viewing software). We will ask you to review the product and approve it for prototyping or request changes using our on-line approval form.
Within a few days from the approval we will ship the prototype. Using the same form you will be able to ask for corrections, make changes or approve it for production as is. |
Q: How does ClickFold ship its products?
A: Effective January 1, 2008 we will be adjusting our shipping charges to a 4.9% flat rate based on shipment value for all ground shipments (9.8% for Express delivery). This reflects our latest negotiated rates with FedEx and the average cost of packaging materials. In light of significant recent rate increases and fuel surcharges we can no longer offer free local delivey.
We only ship with FedEx. This not only keeps our administration at a minimum - it also allows us to pass on shipper volume discounts to our customers. Ground is the default mode of shipment and Express delivery is available upon request. Tracking numbers are automatically transferred to our accounting system and added to our invoices. We do not have such arrangements with UPS or other carriers and cannot accommodate other shipper preferences or ship against account numbers that are not ours. |
Q: Does ClickFold ship to non-U.S. destinations?
A: Yes, we ship to Canada, Europe and Mexico (int'l freight rates apply). Better yet, we have a European affiliate that can manufacture any ClickFold product locally:
CubiDesign of Germany |
Q: How do I pay my bill? Does ClickFold accept credit cards?
A: We outsource our A/R management to Magnolia Financial which allows us to keep our administrative overhead at a minimum and stay focused on providing our procucts as cost efficiently and quickly as possible. They are NOT A COLLECTION AGENCY - they advance funds against our invoices, process customer payments, provide our customers with statements, and call on past due accounts for about the same fee that it would cost us to run a credit card. This setup makes our cash-flow more predictable and improves customer service at the same time.
Our remit-to address for company checks is:
ClickFold Plastics
c/o Magnolia Financial
PO Box 890995
Charlotte, NC 28289
For credit card payments:
Please call us at 1-866-649-8665 and enter extension 707 and you will be forwarded to Magnolia (or call them directly at 1-866-573-0611). Please refer to the ClickFold account and the invoice # you wish to pay using any major credit card. |
Q: What do I do if there is a problem with my product?
A: Please return defective parts or unsatisfactory prototypes within 30 days for prompt credit or replacement. No material return authorization (RMA) is required. Ship at our expense using FedEx Ground account # 2336-0620-0:
ClickFold Plastics
Returns
2900 Westingouse Blvd - Ste 118
Charlotte, NC 28273
If you wish to notify us or provide special instructions please send them to production@clickfold.com
Returns triggers an immediate credit or replacement and corrective action (design and work order update). For that reason please make sure defective product is returned to us promptly, especially when you are expecting further shipments of the same product. Thank you.
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