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Midstate Mold & Engineering

Precision Plastic Injection Molders

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How to Prevent Sink Marks in Plastic Injection Molding

Close-up of an plastic injection molding machine.

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 known as sink marks – or sometimes just “sinks” – that often can show underlying issues with the mold and polymers of the product. In this blog, we’re going to review the sink defect, its causes and solutions, and how to avoid it in the first place.

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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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Comparing Plastic Injection Molding and Thermoforming

A female technician inspecting plastic packages generated by thermoforming

Using plastics in a wide variety of industries provides strength, versatility, and cost-efficiency that is difficult to achieve with many other materials. However, determining the application for which you intend to use plastics can inform you of the manufacturing process you should pursue. In particular, two popular methods for manufacturing plastic parts – plastic injection molding and thermoforming – offer many unique advantages depending on the specifications required for your project. In this blog, we will compare the advantages of both so you can determine the best option for you.

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How You Can Source High-Quality Plastic Parts in the US

Shipping boxes stamped with a red "Made in USA' stamp

Regardless of the effects of the US-China trade war, sourcing parts locally has always been ideal for companies invested in quality and reliability. Plastic injection molding manufacturers based in the US are bound to stringent guidelines that ensure their products and team members are treated with the utmost care. However, before you enter a partnership with a domestic manufacturer, you should learn about the best ways to source high-quality plastic parts in the US.

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What Can Cause Discoloration in Plastic Injection Molding?

A gradient of different colored plastics arranged int he order of a rainbow on sand, used to signify discoloration in plastic injection molding.

Discoloration in injection molding is defined as a disparity in the original color of the plastic. This part defect can arise from a multitude of sources, such as overheating, contamination, or manufacturing error. This inconsistency in the part’s coloring is caused by thermal degradation, and depending on the severity, it can influence how noticeable this defect is. In order to avoid this complication, one must first understand what can cause discoloration in plastic injection molding.

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Rapid Part Prototyping: Why to Include Manufacturers During Design

Hands holding a black prototype part for toy on a yellow background, inidcating a part make with rapid part prototyping

The act of prototyping is typically performed to test various part designs to create the best product, and sometimes it’s required to show multiple design elements to prospective investors. Regardless, prototype development is integral to the plastic injection molding process, as the final product should mirror the designer’s image. However, there are often time constraints on part manufacturing, so individually prototyping different molds can be wasteful. That’s where rapid part prototyping comes in to play.

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