Plastic injection molding has made a name for itself as one of the most popular part manufacturing techniques worldwide, especially when it comes to the rapid production of thousands of plastic parts, with molds lasting years into the production cycle when properly maintained. But not all projects need that volume over that span of time. If you’re looking at a small scale and timeframe, it’s worth looking at plastic injection molds for short production runs.
[Read more…] about Making Plastic Injection Molds for Short Production Runs3 Tips for Overcoming the Limitations of Plastic Injection Molding
Every modern manufacturing method has its strengths and its weaknesses. 3D printing may be fast and relatively cheap, making it great for prototyping, but it cannot be scaled up for mass production. CNC milling can produce complex parts out of very hard materials but at a high cost. There are limitations of plastic injection molding as well, but there are also ways to offset many of these weaknesses with a little foresight, especially when working with the right vendor early in the process. Learn our top three tips for getting your parts made with injection molding the right way.
[Read more…] about 3 Tips for Overcoming the Limitations of Plastic Injection MoldingWho Should Store and Maintain Your Injection Molding Tool?
Plastic injection molding all revolves around the use of specially made injection molds – also known as tools or molding tools. Built to exacting specifications, these tools are also built to function under the punishing conditions of high temperatures and repeating cycles, producing hundreds or thousands of parts a day in as many cycles. As these molds wear down, the quality of the parts they make will degrade, causing increased costs and decreased production. Let’s dive into what proper tool maintenance and storage looks like.
[Read more…] about Who Should Store and Maintain Your Injection Molding Tool?What Does It Take to Relocate an Injection Molding Tool?
There are many reasons why businesses might want to relocate their injection molding tool (also known as a mold) from one injection molding business to another. It might be logistical, wanting to move the tool, therefore their manufacturing, closer to their company or market. It might be economical, moving to another region or country to capitalize on another rate. It might be due to quality control issues or many other factors. Whatever the reason, it’s important to know how to handle tool relocation.
[Read more…] about What Does It Take to Relocate an Injection Molding Tool?Building a Plastic Injection Molding Tool for Success
It’s important to understand that the quality of the end product of injection molding – the plastic part – is a product of three major things: the plastics used in the injection process, the injection machines themselves, and the tool that casts the injected plastic into the final part. While all play a critical role, many of the issues that can arise from the project can be traced back to the molding tool. Time, cost, and the location where your tool is made can all affect the end product, which in turn can affect your end product. Learn what it takes to build the best plastic injection molding tool. [Read more…] about Building a Plastic Injection Molding Tool for Success