I want to manufacture a simple plastic product, how to get started
Hi everyone,
I hope this is the right forum to ask. If not please let me know where is a better place.
I want to manufacture a new type of nock (the thing that holds arrows onto bow strings). It's basically just a piece of plastic that is inserted into the back of the arrow, with a pincer shape on the back. No moving parts.
However I'm a software guy by trade, and have no experience with plastic molding etc.
So I have the following questions, if anyone could be so kind:
- What is the standard file format that manufacturers receive and use for plastic items?
- Also what software is used to make that?
- What are some good starting learning resources on how to design plastic items (model/structure and also material selection)?
- How would I find someone who would manufacture a prototype for me? I'm thinking just to mass email any local manufacturer listed in google, with a rough picture of what I want for quote purposes, and see who replies back. But I'm worried they'll just ignore me if I don't sound like I know what I'm talking about.
Thankyou!