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Midstate Mold & Engineering

Precision Plastic Injection Molders

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3 Considerations When Designing a Plastic Molding Ejection System

A clear injection mold showing the innerworkings and various components of an ejection system.

When plastic parts become stuck in a mold, it can result in part defects, breakage of mold components, manufacturing delays, and increased costs. That is why carefully designing an efficient ejection system is key to achieving optimal output and final quality products. To design a system that ejects parts easily, quickly, and consistently, the engineer should pay considerable attention to the ejection surface area, the location, and the ejection type. Let’s take a closer look at these three considerations when designing a plastic molding ejection system.

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The Benefits of Plastic Parts in the Automotive Industry

A close-up of the rear of a blue car depicting a plastic plate surrounding the exhaust pipe.

We’ve come a long way since the Model T, transitioning away from heavy metal beams and brackets to lightweight yet durable plastics. Today, plastic parts support a wide variety of car functions, from the pedal and seat components to the powertrain and fuel system. There are several benefits to using plastics in car manufacturing, and skilled injection molders are well-versed in matching the right polymers to a car part’s performance needs. To discover just how useful this material can be, let’s review the benefits of plastic parts in the automotive industry.

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The Advantages of Sourcing Your Injection Molding

A plastic injection molder maintaining a large mold to indicate the advantages of sourcing your injection molding.

Manufacturing products entirely made in-house can seem like an attractive proposition, but it’s a prospect that is either extremely difficult to achieve or outright unattainable. It’s usually a consideration rooted in the perceived notion of reduced costs or faster production, but the likelihood of achieving either of these benefits is slim. In fact, outsourcing some of your product’s parts can have many immediate and long-term benefits that exceed in-house production. Let’s specifically review some of the advantages of sourcing your injection molding.

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The Benefits of Chemical-Resistant Resins in Medical Plastics

A close-up of an intravenous drip needle and tube with fluid inside.

In times of COVID-19, medical plastics have never been in such high demand. From syringes to face shields, the plastic injection molding industry has had its hands full. Since medical utensils and devices are essential for performing life-saving tasks, not only do they require complex designs and functionality, but they also need to withstand a variety of medical environments, many of which include harsh chemicals and sanitation. To understand the safety precautions applied to injection molding, let’s take a look at the benefits of chemical-resistant resins in medical plastics.

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Ever Given Underlines Fragility of Logistics in Plastic Injection Molding

A side shot of the Ever Given with "Evergreen" printed on the side floating in a canal, used to represent the fragility of logistics underlined by the Ever Given.

Everyone witnessed the Ever Given causing a six-day traffic jam in the Suez Canal this March. Even with the cargo ship dislodged, it’s creating a nightmare of logistical issues for manufacturers. While the holdup didn’t affect Midstate Mold, it has further revealed how delicate supply chains are that utilize international transport, such as resin shipments or tool relocation. Given the fragility of logistics underlined by the Ever Given, let’s look at how to shorten supply lines in plastic injection molding to avoid undue production and distribution delays.

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How Plastic Injection Molding Shrinkage Affects the Final Product

A closeup of small plastic parts meant to signify plastic injection molding shrinkage.

A part’s geometry, appearance, and performance can be largely impacted if a manufacturer doesn’t properly determine the shrink rate of the final product. It’s inherent in the plastic injection molding process, and if not accurately accounted for, it can result in timely and costly production line disruptions. Despite calculating the shrink rate, sometimes excessive shrinkage can occur, leading to further issues. Since it’s a complex process, let’s take a look at how and why plastic injection molding shrinkage affects the final product and the methods manufacturers use to compensate for it.

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