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Midstate Mold & Engineering

Precision Plastic Injection Molders

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The 3 Common Mistakes in Designing Products for Injection Molding

White plastic spur gears interconnected in black, plastic housing designed through plastic injection molding.

Injection molding is the most common manufacturing process, and businesses are eager to start projects using affordable and durable polymers. However, due to the intricacies involved in plastic injection molding, engineers need to carefully consider how they design their parts to ensure maximum part performance and reduced tooling costs. When a business’s engineers take it upon themselves to make an injection mold without the consultation of injection molding specialists, errors are sure to arise. Let’s review three of the common mistakes in designing products for injection molding.

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Achieve A Smoother Finish with Injection Mold Polishing

An injection molder using a microscope to inspect the polished interior of an injection mold.

Industrial and consumer products need to rely on quality parts. Since molds have direct involvement over a part’s outcome, many steps are taken by manufacturers when developing molds to ensure they achieve the best final product. One of the last steps a mold maker employs is polishing. This is a vital process for improving a part’s quality, and it’s a method that every injection molder should understand. Let’s take a deeper look into how manufacturers achieve a smoother finish with injection mold polishing.

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Finding Alternative Thermoplastics to PTFE

A pile of purple syringe PTFE membrane filters meant to signify alternative thermoplastics to PTFE

Since the late 1940s, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) has grown in popularity throughout the years. PTFE doesn’t behave like any ordinary polymer. It boasts many unique properties that are often difficult to replicate. However, its processing limitations and the fact that it lacks some vital properties for certain applications have companies seeking alternatives to this thermoplastic. Over the years, new polymers have been developed to maintain similar PTFE properties while also filling in performance gaps. Let’s review some of these alternative thermoplastics to PTFE.

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Why Is Low-Volume Injection Molding Gaining Traction in the Industry?

A picturing of a green and yellow plastic injection molding machine with a computerized display.

We’re living in a fast-paced market, resulting in sellers wanting their products to be available to the public as quickly as possible. While companies are eager for on-demand manufacturing, plastic injection molders need to ensure they’re fulfilling orders with quality parts. This has led many manufacturers to adopt low-volume production methods to meet the client’s needs while also achieving consistent characteristics and qualities. Learn whether low-volume injection molding is the right method for your business and why many competitors are jumping aboard this industry trend.

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Preparing Your Logistics for Natural Disasters: The Push-Pull System

An image of a spreading forest fire.

On top of the pandemic, the past two years have witnessed an increase in destructive natural disasters. Hurricane Eta rampaging through Central America, the ice storm knocking out power across Texas, and the deadly wildfires consuming much of the United States’ west coast were just a few of the catastrophes of the past year. These devastating natural disasters not only threaten residents of these areas but also create logistical nightmares for many supply chains. Let’s review the push-pull system in injection molding and how it can prepare your logistics for the natural disasters ahead.

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The Benefits of Engineering-Grade Resins in Plastic Injection Molding

A gloved hand holding a screw driver next to plastic electrical housing make with engineering-grade resins.

Mainstream polymers are versatile enough to perform a large number of applications. Still, sometimes custom or specially built molded parts – such as for medical and public safety industries – have requirements that some commodity plastics just can’t meet. If a part needs to stand up to harsh conditions such as chemicals and fire, often engineering-grade plastics are the most viable solution. To understand how the application of these special plastics can minimize failure risk and achieve unique specifications, let’s review engineering-grade resins in plastic injection molding.

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