What is injection molding?

Injection molding is widely used in the plastics processing industry. Production on injection molding machines allows you to obtain ready-made elements of virtually any shape and size, which translates into the increasing use of injection molding machines in various industries and fields of industry. The advantages of injection molding are particularly used by manufacturers whose products are faced with ever greater demands. What is injection molding? What can be produced on injection molding machines? Does the production on injection molding machines have any disadvantages?

In the article below, we answer the most frequently asked questions about injection molding and its application in various industries – from the production of toys to the production of components for the automotive and aerospace industries.

Injection Molding: What is it?

Injection molding  is a process based on the interaction of an injection molding machine and  an injection mold attached to it . The injection molding machine forces the mass of plastic into the mold cavity. After the appropriate time, the mold opens and the finished element can be removed from it. Injection molds usually consist of two elements. One is permanently attached to the injection molding machine table, the other is a movable element. For large fittings, molds with one cavity are used. Small elements are produced using molds with several to even a dozen cavities, which significantly increases the efficiency of the entire process.

What to produce on the injection molding machine?

Entrepreneurs often wonder what to produce on an injection molding machine. Production on injection molding machines allows for the production of both small plastic details and large-size elements. Due to the fact that the injection mold must be designed and created for each manufactured element separately, this technology is profitable primarily in large-scale production. Therefore, single details or even single large-size elements are not made on the injection molding machine. The reason is the high cost of their production. So what to produce on an injection molding machine?

Before answering this question, it is worth noting that injection molding technology is constantly being improved. This significantly extends the possibilities of its use in the production of ultra-light plastic elements with air enclosed inside or elements composed of two different types of materials. A perfect example of this is application of production on injection molding machines in the automotive industry, e.g. for the production of car bumpers.

Production on injection molding machines: Advantages and disadvantages

Production on injection molding machines has numerous advantages, among which the following deserve attention:

• high precision and aesthetics of molding (enables the production of complex components and small details),
• speed and efficiency of the production process,
• reduction of labor costs to a minimum, thanks to the possibility of full automation of control and control of the production process,
• minimizing energy consumption, waste and emissions of harmful compounds,
• flexibility of the production process.

On the opposite side, there are, above all, the previously mentioned high costs of making an injection mold. As a result of the above, injection molding is considered profitable primarily in high-volume production. 

Check also:  heads for plastics ,  calibrators for plastics.

What is the cost of making an injection mold?