Injection Mold Design

Economical Large Scale Manufacturing

Injection molded parts or finished products are increasingly popular in a variety of industries because the fabricating costs are relatively low after the initial engineering of the die is complete. This method of manufacturing also ensures that each individual part will exactly match every other piece; with the result being finely detailed parts manufactured that can be manufactured quickly in large quantities without losing details. There are many other advantages as well, including strength and durability as well as the availability of literally thousands of possible polymers, including nylon, polystyrene and other thermoplastics as well as some popular elastomers and thermosets such as phenolic and epoxy.

The Advantages Of Injection Mold Design And Manufacturer

Any time that you need a large number of items (1000 or more) manufactured within a short time frame, injection molding is one solution that is easy on your production budget while turning out large quantities of product at an impressive rate. There are many advantages to this form of fabrication, including the relatively low cost and easy manufacturing process. If you need multiple, interlocking or attachable products made, successful engineering can result in the creation of multiple dies that can be used simultaneously to produce large numbers of parts in a short time frame.

Because of the precision of molded parts, the assembly of multiple parts is minimized after fabrication is complete. Mismatched or incompatible parts are virtually eliminated through proper design and assembly. Some examples of products taking advantage of this precise engineering include plastic lawn chairs, auto interiors, toys requiring assembly and a host of durable household products. Unlike some other production techniques, it’s easy to use inserts or add fillers to the resin with injection molding. Close tolerances and minimal post production finishing requirements keep costs low while producing items that are cleanly finished when ejected from the die.

Cost Effectiveness

One of the reasons injection mold design and manufacture is so popular is simple: it’s cost effective. Once you have a die designed for your product, it can be used to produce hundreds of thousands of end products or parts without wearing out. In many situations, a top quality die can be used for years or even decades. Scraps of polymer used during manufacture can be reused in the next batch, reducing waste, reducing your carbon footprint. Finally, fully automated systems ensure repeatable results, superior quality and minimal cost overruns combined with extremely fast production.

Is Injection Mold Design Right For My Product?

Not every product or part can be successfully manufactured using this fabrication method. In some cases, a particular design is simply too large or has walls that would be too thin for reliable fabrication using this method. However, if a product meets the following criteria, it’s likely that it can be molded at a relatively low cost with minimal variance from one item to the next:

  • Uniform wall thickness of the product to ensure complete filling of the die
  • In the event some change in wall thickness is needed, a gradual transition will mean less stress and minimal abrupt changes in cooling times
  • High quantity production is needed
  • Repeatable results are essential
  • Is the length/profile within manufacturing limits (in some cases, extrusion may be a better alternative for long, narrow products
  • The product can be made using polymers such as thermoplastics

If your product design meets the above criteria, an injection mold design may be the answer for your manufacturing needs. Talk to an engineer or injection mold design specialist in order to learn more about the process and how it can work for you.

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