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Midstate Mold & Engineering

Precision Plastic Injection Molders

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Weld Line Defects in Plastic Injection Molding

Injection molding machine ejects the finished part.

Every manufacturing process can introduce different defects into the final product. The goal of every manufacturer is to have the machines, process, and quality assurance in place to reduce and even remove flaws from final parts and products. In this blog, we’re looking at one of the more common part defects that can come from injection molding: weld lines. Let’s go over what weld lines defects are, how they are caused, and what injection molding companies do to avoid them.

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Plastic Injection Molding: How Manufacturers Check Part Quality

Dial set to high with the words "quality level" on them, representing quality management systems.

How important is part quality for your plastic injection molded products? Like with all manufacturing, the injection molding process can introduce defects to parts from the cosmetic to the critical. Assuring the quality of the part requires these defect parts located, troubleshot, and removed. The specific needs of the client and the standards for their industry means many different processes and best practices may be called on to meet standards and quality. Let’s review six of the standards, processes, and studies we perform during plastic injection molding parts manufacturing.

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Injection Molding for Startups: Prototyping and Short-Runs

Startup in yellow 3D text with light bulbs on purple backdrop.

Every business needs to prototype and test their products before they go to market, but this is especially true for startup companies building their flagship products. Your first products can make or break your company and having prototypes, and injection molding for startups gives you the flexability to start early with short-runs and prototyping. Regardless of your revenue source, from venture capital to crowdsourcing, the sooner you can make physical copies of your product, the better.

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Looking at the Hidden Cost of Overseas Plastic Injection

Shipping containers waiting for loading into cargo ships for overseas shipping from shipyard.

When it comes to manufacturing plastic injection molds overseas or domestically, we’re familiar with both sides. As mold designers, mold makers, and mold manufacturers, we work with clients at each stage – including taking a mold we’ve designed and working with them to have them manufactured overseas or domestically. This is also true for where parts are made. When you’re looking at having tools or parts made with overseas plastic injection, it’s important to look at all aspects – not just price points – to avoid hidden costs.

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Flash, Spew and Burrs: Troubleshooting Mold Problems

An injection molding machine ejecting the finished part from the mold.

The goal of every plastic injection mold and parts manufacturer is to have each mold and part come out without issue or defect. However, like with all manufacturing processes, these flaws can be introduced due to a myriad of situations. Today, we’re looking at a common issue with plastic injection molding that goes by multiple names: flash, spew, or burrs, in which there is excess material attached to the part. In this blog, we’re going to review the molding defect, its causes, solutions, and how to avoid it in the first place.

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Design for Manufacturing: Working Early with Vendors

Computer with CAD graphic design on it.

For many businesses, looking for a parts manufacturing vendor happens late into the design process, often after you’re deep into the design phase. This has its advantages, as the scope of the product has already been figured out and having a CAD or physical prototype allows for quicker mold design. However, it’s not usually the right decision when it comes to the end product. Work with your vendor early in the design process, even before prototype development, can result in a product that’s easier and less costly to manufacture, with fewer mold design and injection molding production problems.

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