Although plastic injection molding has advanced significantly over the years, it's still based on the same standard principles it was years ago; today's technological developments have only further enhanced its versatility and reliability.
During plastic injection molding, plastic particles are melted down and injected into molds, which are chilled via water or a coolant that allows the plastic to harden. Once it has hardened, it is ejected from the mold and ready for use.
With Halloween right around the corner, we thought it would be appropriate to discuss some of the scary things to look out for when it comes to defects that can impact the quality of your plastic injection molded part.
When engineering the wall thickness of a plastic part, a careful balance of weight, geometry, and budgetary considerations must be maintained. For example, while thick plastic walls offer more strength, they also have a greater tendency to warp during the cooling stage of the manufacturing process.
With hundreds of commodity and engineering resins available on the market today, the material selection process for plastic injection molding jobs can often seem daunting at first.
At The Rodon Group, we understand the unique benefits and properties of different types of plastics and work closely with clients to find the best fit for their project.
The success and precision of a part depends on the quality of its mold, but building a reliable, long-lasting tool can take a considerable amount of time — and requires a great deal of accuracy. Also, molds are often one the largest capital investments in a project, so it’s critical that tooling is built right the first time around. This is particularly important in high-volume injection molding projects, where molds can be extremely complex.
Since our founding in 1956, The Rodon Group has crafted billions of high-quality plastic components for all types of applications, earning us a reputation as one of the industry’s best high-volume injection molding providers for both standard parts and complex custom projects.
With the use of injection molding presses and high-performance resins, plastic injection molders are able to craft a broad range of quality custom parts. Just as all resins are unique, these sophisticated machines offer varied capabilities and performance options depending on press size and type.
While plastic injection molding may not be rocket science, it is still a very complex manufacturing process. It involves great attention to detail and there are many factors to take into consideration.
First, the part design must be developed and maximized for manufacturability. Then a mold must be built. This involves computerized as well as hand tooling. The mold must then be tested along with resin and color options to determine the best formulation for the project.
Used in all types of industries, plastics provide versatility and strength across a wide range of applications, from automotive body parts to human body parts. Each application requires a special manufacturing process that can mold the part based on specifications.
