Plastic injection molding is one of the most common manufacturing processes because of its ability to produce identical parts at a rapid rate. Almost every industry has some demand for plastic injection molded parts; a wide variety of consumer products are manufactured by injection molding, which varies greatly in their size, complexity, and application.
The plastic injection molding process requires the use of an injection molding machine, plastic resin pellets, and a mold. The plastic resin pellets are melted in the injection molding machine and then injected into the mold, where it cools and solidifies into the final part.
Our variety of press sizes ranging from 7-500 tons allow us to meet your injection molding needs in both prototype and production volumes ranging from 100 to 1,000,000+ parts. This allows us to produce quality plastic injection molded parts while cutting down time to market.
We offer both overmolding and insert molding, both of which are standard injection molding processes.
Overmolding involves two or more materials molded together to become one part. Most commonly when a substrate is placed into the mold and plastic resin is then overmolded around, over, or through it.
Insert Molding involves a preformed part, such as a metal insert to be inserted in the mold for injected plastic to flow around, over, or through it to result in a single molded plastic piece which has encapsulated the insert.
We’ve put together some commonly asked questions about plastic injection molding, so that you can find out if it is the best process for your product.
Injection molded parts offer incredible accuracy and repeatability at a cost-efficient price point. Plastic injection molding is also a very efficient way of producing parts; cycle times can range from a few seconds to a couple of minutes depending on the size of the part and the number of cavities in the mold.
There are numerous materials available that offer different, unique characteristics that fit a wide range of applications. At TenX Manufacturing, we use pelletized resins and as well as any colorants required. The parts can be completely customized with molded-in inserts, custom colors and branded logos. Once plastic injection molded parts are removed from the mold, they are a finished product with the exception of a few post-process steps like sonic welding, UV laser marking/pad printing, or further part assembly.
Injection molding is used by almost every industry, the majority of plastic products in the world today are injection molded parts. Consumer products like cell phone cases, implantable medical devices, automotive parts, and so many more are examples of how injection molding is integrated into everyday life.
We currently have a shot size range of .152oz – 54oz, so we can produce plastic injection molding parts within these sizes for any industry.
There are many factors in determining what kind of mold should be built (prototype, production, single-cavity, or multi-cavity) and most are typically made from aluminum or tool steel.
For building aluminum injection molds, the most commonly used grade of aluminum is 7075; these aluminum molds are typically a great fit for prototype or short-run production. Steel tooling is commonly produced from tool steel in the following grades: P20, H13, A2, D2, and 4140. These steel molds are a great fit for high-volume injection molding or when molded parts are being produced from abrasive material like glass-filled nylon.
Building an injection mold is a lengthy and potentially expensive process that starts with an understanding of the part that needs to be molded. Potential plastic injection molding problems can be minimized by performing upfront precautions like mold-flow simulations, fill and warp analysis; these measures can highlight potential issues and save time & money down the road.
The block of material, whether aluminum or steel from which the mold will be made, is also a determining factor in the cost of injection tooling. Part geometry and number of cavities will directly correlate to the amount of CNC machine time that is required to make the mold. Parts that have complex geometries (undercuts) that require any additional movement in the tool other than open or close will add to the complexity and cost of the injection mold tool.
Having a part properly designed for prototype injection molding is critical to achieving manufacturing success. Things to consider include:
Utilizing software such as Mold-Flow Simulation & Warp Analysis is extremely beneficial and can highlight potential issues prior to building an injection tool.
Understanding the injection molding process as well as the common defects that can happen to injection molded parts:
Although some of these defects can happen from improper injection molding processing, properly designed parts and injection mold tooling can minimize these from happening.
The plastic injection molding cycle occurs by melting plastic resin pellets and injecting the molten material under pressure into a closed metal mold tool. This process is repeated time and time again to produce large quantities of parts at a cost-efficient rate.
This is a complex process and it takes numerous pieces of equipment and highly trained individuals to oversee the entire process.
If you do choose to do your own plastic injection molding, you’ll need to be able to accurately measure melt temperatures. Equipped with accurate measurements, you’ll reduce wasted material and minimize variation from lot to lot, saving you more time and money. TenX offers a Melt Temperature Measurement Kit that helps you eliminate human error in a safe and effective way.
If you’re in need of a prototype or have any additional questions about plastic injection molding or the process, our team at TenX is here to help. Contact our shop and get started on your plastic injection molded part.