Explore Materials: board tooling

Reticulated (like a net) Polyester Urethane foam, more expensive than Polyether, provides a much higher degree of performance, durability, and consistency. Lightweight, resilient, excellent vibration dampening and insulation properties. It also offers high resistance to chemicals and moisture.

Polyether urethane foam is softer, with superior resistance to moisture, and is better for cushioning in wet conditions than polyester. If you need more tensile strength and support, the polyurethane ester foam is better.

Expanded Polyethylene (EPE), light-weight semi-rigid foam. Shock resistance better than EPS; low surface water absorption; good penetration resistance; acid, alkali, salt, oil and other organic solvents , Excellent aging resistance; no flowing at high temperature, no brittleness at low temperature.

Expanded Polypropylene (EPP), the fastest-growing new type of environmentally friendly compression buffer insulation foam. Very tough. Not easy to break. High recovery rate after deformation, very good heat, chemical, oil resistance, and heat insulation.

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) or Styrofoam, is a light-weight rigid, tough, closed-cell foam. Good thermal insulator. Permeable by water (bad vapor barrier), in case of water logging, loses its insulating properties., and if water freezes, the form can break. Less expensive of all foams. Colors vary.

Precision board with a silky-smooth surface, lasts10X longer than wood, waterproof, eco-friendly. Will not rot or decompose at any climate changes. Significantly less expensive than 18lb board. Slightly lower abrasion resistance and machine surface finish smoothness.

Wood substitute. Density 18lb is similar to redwood or cedar. A premium extremely smooth precision board, waterproof, weatherproof, lasts 10X longer than wood, with higher abrasion resistance. High level of edge detail.

Aluminum substitute. A high-density precision board perfect for CNC tooling with significant tool life and high levels of small detail. Expensive, but cheaper and faster to machine than aluminum.

More expensive than same density HDU. Less expensive than aluminum. Great for masters in metal casting for quick and accurate prototypes. Tough enough to last through a few rounds of metal stamping in the home shop. Unaffected by the chemicals, heat, and vacuum.