Plastic Molding Guide
Plastic Molding Guide
Gas Assist Injection Molding – GAIM
This process utilises high pressure nitrogen gas to produce hollow injection moulded components resulting in lower weight and shorter cycles and reduced visual sinking. Variants of this process include ‘external gas moulding’ and ‘internal gas moulding.
Metal Injection Molding – MIM
MIM is an advanced manufacturing process for forming small, complex, high-precision and high performance metal parts. It is a development of the traditional powder metallurgy (PM) process and has several key advantages.
Co-Injection Molding
Similar to injection moulding but with multiple extruders to produce a single component from two 2 or more different parent materials or colours. Typical applications are soft overmoulding to produce seals or ergonomic soft-touch handles. Examples are – screwdrivers, soft-grip handles, cup-holders, toothbrushes.For more information on 2-component moulding contact our sales team.
Thin Wall Injection Molding – TWIM
Thin wall moulding is defined as a wall thickness of less than 0.025 in (0.62 mm) or a flow length to wall thickness ratio of greater than 200. When compared to standard injection molding, high melt flow materials are used (30-60 MFI), along with accumulator assist injection and higher injection speeds and pressures. Stack molds are common.
Micro Molding
Recent advances in miniature moulding technology has seen major growth in the area of micro moulding for electronics and medical applications. Contact our sales team for a quote on your micro moulding requirements.
Thermoplastic Injection Molding
Thermoplastic Injection moulding is the most widely used of all plastic processing methods. Injection moulding offers the lowest piece prices available, but tooling prices are generally the highest. The injection molding machine reduces pelletized raw material into a hot liquid. This “melt” is forced into a cooled mould under tremendous pressure. After the material solidifies, the mould is opened and a finished part is ejected.
Thermoset Injection Molding
Thermoset injection moulding is similar to thermo-plastic injection moulding except that uncured thermoset resins are mixed, injected, and held in a heated mould until cured. As with thermoplastic moulding, the price per piece can be low, but the tooling prices are generally very high.
Blow Molding
This method is typically used to create hollow parts; jars, bottles, containers, etc Part prices for this style of plastic and rubber services are generally higher than injection moulded parts, but lower than rotationally moulded parts. Tooling costs are moderate.
Rotational Molding
Rotational moulding uses hollow moulds filled with powdered resin, Low tooling costs and high piece prices are typical of this process.
Compression Molding
Compression moulding services use a slug of hard media pressed between the two halves of a heated mould. After being formed, the part is air-cooled. Both tooling and piece part prices are moderate.
Thermoforming Plastic Molding
Thermoforming plastic moulding uses sheets of pre-extruded rigid plastic as the feed material. These are heated horizontally and sucked down into hollow one-piece tools.
In-Mold Labelling – IMD
(Also referred to as In-mould decorating) Mainly used in injection moulding. Robotically placed individual pre-printed decorative labels are loaded during each machine cycle into the mould tool. To assist adhesion during the closing and material flow stages, the label and tool is electrostatic charged.
In-Mold Labelling – IMD
(Also referred to as In-mould decorating) Mainly used in injection moulding. Robotically placed individual pre-printed decorative labels are loaded during each machine cycle into the mould tool. To assist adhesion during the closing and material flow stages, the label and tool is electrostatic charged.
Structural Foam Molding
Structural foam moulding is a term commonly used to describe components made by the injection moulding process which have a cellular core in which the outer surface is denser than the inner layers. The core of the moulding is of a honeycomb nature and less dense than the outer surface. Also microcellular injection moulding (MuCell). Advantages and applications include – Wine corks, Energy absorbing foam, low weight products, impact absorbing pads. Contact our sales team for further information on this process.
Bring your product idea to life as soon as 5 days!
Bring your product idea to life as soon as 5 days!
Bring your product idea to life
as soon as 5 days!