What To Know About Plastic Molding?

Plastic molding, also called injection molding, is the manufacturing process applied in countless manufacturing processes. When it comes to mass production, many millions of pieces must be created in the exact same way and plastic molding is the way to go.

First of all, plastic molding begins with the creation of a mold made in two halves: the fixed half and the moving half. The design of the mold must allow for the plastic to be injected. Therefore, the mold must be inserted in a machine that firmly presses the two parts together. Next, the plastic will be inserted into a heated screw in the form of pellets. The heat in the screw will melt the pellets into the strong plastic material that will then be inserted into the mold at high pressure. The mold will be filled with this plastic which will soon solidify. Once the contents of the mold have cooled the product is removed from the mold and the process can be repeated.

There are many advantages to this method of plastic production. Primarily, this process is capable of producing large quantities in a small amount of time. The more products that can be produced in a short amount of time the more cost-effective the process. The process is also efficient inasmuch as it produces very little scrap materials.

Even though this process is simplistic, the process also demands careful planning for the product to meet the required standards. Here are three of the most important pointers to consider when looking for the right plastic molder for your needs.

Design

Beginning with a carefully laid out concept is the first step in ensuring the entire process is carried out effectively and efficiently. Begin with a clear set of design goals and decide which of these goals are the most important. Is the most important goal to reduce the costs of production? Is the highest priority to improve the quality of the final product?

These will all be very important points to discuss with your potential manufacturing company. You will also need to consider the size and complexity of the pieces being produced. Intricate designs require greater details in the molds. Finally, you will need to consider the various types of materials that can be used in the process. The best material selection depends on the specifics of the product being created. There are many factors in this decision alone. You will want to consider the type of environment in which your product will be expected to perform and which material will be the best choice for this role.

Production

Another important consideration will be the volume for the injection molders. Injection molders categorize their workload in high or low volumes. Low volumes are those that are expected to produce less than 10,000 parts and high volumes are those that are higher than 750,000 pieces.

Furthermore, there is a variety of injection molding technologies that must be considered for example structural foam molding, traditional injection molding, over-molding and gas-assisted molding.

You will also have to consider the time constraints that apply to the project. Consider the time it will take from the time of the initial concept to the completion of the final project. It is always a good idea to assume there will be some delays in shipping, revisions or manufacturing.

Costs

It is always the initial investment that is higher than the majority of production costs. The initial investment will have to cover the costs for the first prototype and the creation of the mold that will create replicas of the desired parts. This can be a long and time-consuming process and also especially costly.

Once that is done, you should consider the number of parts being produced to ensure that the injection molding is cost-effective. Does the volume you are considering creating justify the costs of injection molding? What is the cost per part you will need to achieve to cover the costs of production.

Now that you have a better idea of what the process looks like, you will need to choose a reliable plastic manufacturer. You view details here all about injection molding and the process we follow. If you have any further questions or require more information, contact us today for a FREE quote.