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Precision Plastic Injection Molders

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Injection Molding Thermoplastic Highlight: Polyamide

A plastic part part made from polyamide being held by a hand.

The magic of plastic injection molding is that there is a myriad of materials to select from, all with their own unique characteristics. One such material commonly used in injection molding is polyamide – perhaps more widely known as Nylon. This highly versatile thermoplastic boasts an impressive combination of electrical and mechanical properties, making it an ideal material to use in many different industries. To give you a better idea of your options, let’s highlight some of the benefits and challenges associated with the thermoplastic polyamide.

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Is Plastic Injection Molding Ecologically Sustainable?

A woman placing a plastic water bottle into a recycling bin with a tree in the background.

The green movement is more important than ever nowadays. Companies are being urged to make changes that scale back on their carbon footprint and support the environment. Plastics usually get a poor reputation when it comes to environmental health, but the plastic injection molding industry is surprisingly very economically responsible. Many injection molding manufacturers hold themselves accountable for the environment’s wellbeing by improving all stages of their process. Let’s review some of the ways plastic injection molding is ecologically sustainable.

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What’s the Best Transparent Plastic for Injection Molding?

A clear bottle made of transparent thermoplastics on top of grass

Molding clear parts – such as water bottles or food-grade storage items – requires more focused attention to detail and stricter processing controls compared to non-transparent injection molding. Each transparent polymer has varying properties that can influence a company’s decision, including differing levels of strength needs, temperature requirements, and chemical resistance. Even environmental factors such as UV radiation can cause degradation in outdoor equipment utilizing clear plastics. That’s why it’s important to familiarize yourself with the best transparent plastic for your needs.

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Injection Molding Plastic: Thermoplastic vs. Thermoset

Picture showing the difference between Thermoplastic and Thermoset under stress.
Picture showing the difference between Thermoplastic and Thermoset under stress. Original file can be found in Wikimedia Commons.

When it comes to injection molding, a common request we receive is advice on the right plastics to use in their projects. While we can only provide suggestions, one common point of confusion for our clients is the difference between thermoplastic and thermoset resins. As part of the injection process, both plastics are subjected to heat during the process, and it is in this difference (which you may have guessed to the thermo prefix) that truly separates these two types of plastics and give them their unique qualities. [Read more…] about Injection Molding Plastic: Thermoplastic vs. Thermoset

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Thermoplastic Highlight: ABS Plastic for Injection Molding

Colorful plastic blocks made out of ABS plastic.The great thing about working with plastics is there are many to choose from for their different characteristics, abilities, composition, durability, price-points, and more. These can range from plastics that is as hard as metal to plastics that are designed to flex when molded properly as a living hinge. From this wide array of plastics, let’s look at one of the most common types of plastic used: ABS plastic, and why you can find it in everything from drainage pipes to LEGO bricks. [Read more…] about Thermoplastic Highlight: ABS Plastic for Injection Molding

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Plastic Perks: Metal-To-Plastic Conversion for Parts

Plastic Perks: Metal-To-Plastic Conversion for Parts

Over the past century, the plastics industry has saturated our world and drastically changed the way we live. Today there are high-strength polymers that can meet and even exceed metals in terms of strength and flexibility. This has had a transformative effect on parts manufacturing, allowing metal parts to be swapped out for plastic parts that provide the same structure, but with reduced weight, more design flexibility, more efficiency, and less cost. If you want to take advantage of these changes with an existing part, it’s time to look at a metal-to-plastic conversion for the component. [Read more…] about Plastic Perks: Metal-To-Plastic Conversion for Parts