Someone explain to me how plates are manufactured and why multi-curve is more expensive - Page 1

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Someone explain to me how plates are manufactured and why multi-curve is more expensive

Posted: 1/15/2021 10:56:12 PM EDT

The one of the main differentials between plates is whether they're multi-curve or single-curve. What about the manufacturing process makes multi-curve plates so much more expensive to produce than single-curve plates? Do they get more rejects from curving a plate multiple times during the manufacturing process, or something else? I guess I'm just not really clear on how a plate is manufactured.

Posted: 1/15/2021 11:27:09 PM EDT

[#1]

Ceramic plates are manufactured by pressing or sintering ceramic powder into a mold. The complex geometry of a multi-curve plate makes achieving the appropriate material properties during the pressing process much more difficult, resulting in lower yield rates, i.e. more rejects per batch.

Posted: 1/18/2021 11:34:02 PM EDT

[#2]

You are making the assumption that manufacturing cost are relevant to selling price. Don’t do that.

Disclaimer: I have no idea how plates are made, but I am very familiar with manufacturing costs. There can be many potential “reasons” but’s they don’t necessarily correlate to a selling price difference. I have seen many products that cost less to manufacture, yet they sell at a drastically increased price. Value based pricing.

Posted: 1/19/2021 3:09:58 AM EDT

[#3]

The mold might cost more to produce

The geometry might cause a higher reject rate

Might be more labor involved

Might just be that they like money, who ever gives away their best stuff for free?

Posted: 1/19/2021 5:34:59 PM EDT

[#4]

For ceramic with PE backing both pieces must be made with the same exact curve so they mate together precisely, which is harder with multicurve compared to single curve compared to flat.

Posted: 1/19/2021 6:17:14 PM EDT

[#5]

Quote History

Quoted:
The mold might cost more to produce

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Agree.
Molds in general are extremely expensive.. at least in the polymer injection industry.
I guess the same applies to the armor mfg process.

Posted: 1/19/2021 6:20:58 PM EDT

[#6]

I don’t work around armor but I do work in the Polyethylene injection and thermoforming industry. Our cheaper steel molds start in the $150-200k price range before add ons. Very complicated machining involved.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Someone explain to me how plates are manufactured and why multi-curve is more expensive

Armory » Tactical Gear

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