Basics of Injection Molding

Making thermoplastics and shaping them into various useful objects is an amazing science. Among the many processes used in shaping plastic resins, injection molding is the most commonly used.

Injection molding is the primary method in producing parts, using large machines called injection-molding machines, from thermoplastic materials. The process of injection molding is an economical and rapid way of producing varieties of plastic materials in a high quality precision manner.

The process of injection molding was first used in the early 1920s for producing cellulose-plastic toothbrushes, combs and other small industrial items. Since then, the basic process and principles of injection molding has not changed drastically. Due to the developments of different kinds of plastics and state-of-the-art injection molding machines, the process of injection molding have become a common method in producing objects for many markets and industries.

There are several steps in the injection molding process:

1) Plastic pellet or granules are heated until melted (The heat depends on the kind of plastic used, but typically ranges from 350 – 550 degrees Fahrenheit).

2) The melted plastics are then placed under high pressure into an unyielding mold (usually using metal, steel or aluminum).

3) The plastic is cooled down to re-solidify, producing the desired dimensions and shapes of the plastic.

Injection-molded parts vary in sizes. It can be as small as an object hardly visible to the naked eye or as huge as the exterior of a car’s body panel.

Since these plastic molds are processed in high intensities of heat and pressure, the results are guaranteed to be heavy-duty construction materials. For this reason, any item produced from injection molding machines can be expensive.

If you need only a few items, injection molding is not a practical option. This is because large quantities of plastics are needed to pay off the costs and allow for economical finished products. Plastic injection molding may cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars, depending on the size of the molds.

Plastic molds are made with high precision. For this reason, new injection molding machines are designed to control temperature and pressure strictly. In addition, plastic materials are made with high-class specifications. Because of these improvements, a single injection-molding machine can produce thousands of the same objects, which are identical in quality, appearance, integrity and performance.

By using the process of injection molding, you will be able to produce durable products that provide quality, usability and consistency… anytime.