The advantages of plastic injection molding
In plastic part manufacturing, the injection molding process is very versatile and possesses many advantages when compared with other plastic molding methods. Plastic injection molding is not only simpler and reliable, but also more efficient than others. Now, let’s see what the advantages of plastic injection molding are:
1.Highly Efficient Production
The plastic injection molding process is proved to be the most commonly applied and most efficient way of injection molding, as evidenced by the several solid reasons. When compared with other processes, The advantages of plastic injection molding is really fast, and more efficient and cost effective thanks to its high productivity. Though production speed is dependent on mold complexity and size, it only takes about 15 – 120 seconds between each production cycle.
With such a short interval between production cycles, a larger number of molds are able to be produced in a very limited time period, thus maximizing revenue and profit for the client. We produce parts 24/7 at ECO Molding by using a material requirement planning system (MRPS). Although this system is not able to replace a manufacturing manager with regard to input and experience, it is really helpful in enhancing production efficiency within the production facility, and in return, this will ensure savings for our clients.
2.Complicated Product Design
The injection molding process has the ability to deal with very complicated product designs, while ensuring uniformity, by making hundreds of thousands of virtually the same parts. During the design process, we will take all key elements into consideration, in an effort to optimize the efficiency of injection molding in a large volume, and at the same time maximize part precision and quality for you. First of all, part design has to be developed with the aim of maximizing the effectiveness of large volume plastic injection molding. When design is done right, the part can be produced consistently with high quality. If a good design is not in place, costly mistakes might occur during the process.
Most professionals in the molding industry see eye to eye that the fundamental design elements in the plastic injection molding process have to work correctly, including wall thickness, rib design, boss design, corner transition, weld line, as well as gate/vent arrangement.
3.Enhanced Part Strength
One of the key elements that need to be identified during the design process of a plastic injection molded part is strength. Designers need to have sufficient expertise on whether the desired part is required to be flexible or rigid, so they can make appropriate adjustments to the integrating ribs or gussets. In addition, it is also very important to know how the client is going to use the part, as well as what conditions the part will be exposed to.
It is better to strike a balance between design considerations, because it is able to help address your needs for part strength and stability. Another key role defining the part strength is selection of materials. In the text below, you can find more information on resin types used in the plastic injection molding process.
4.Flexibility in Both Material and Color
Another 2 factors in construction of plastic parts are selections of the right material and the right color for your production project. However, the possibilities are almost infinite thanks to the almost endless variety of material and color. Over the past years, polymers have been developed to allow a wider selection range of resin materials for the client to choose from. It is recommended that you work in collaboration with a plastic injection mold maker who is experienced with a diversity of plastic materials and their particular applications, including those compliant with FDA, RoHS, REACH and NSF. To make sure you choose the most appropriate material for your production, you have to keep the following factors in mind, including impact strength, tensile strength, flexural modulus of elasticity, as well as heat deflection and water absorption
A variety of coloring systems can be used to color the plastic materials, each possessing its unique features, benefits, and weaknesses, among which masterbatches, “salt & pepper” blends, liquid color, and pre-colored plastic are the four most commonly applied coloring methods.
5.Waste Reduction
When you are looking to partner with an injection mold maker who possesses a large volume injection molding capacity, it is of great importance to consider the manufacturers who advocate the Green Manufacturing initiatives, because these can indicate their commitment to product quality, sustainability and great safety. It is inevitable for the plastic injection molding process to generate excess plastic. So, you need to find a mold maker who has put a recycling system in place for the excess plastics. To minimize waste, transportation and packaging, the most environmentally friendly plastic injection mold makers will look to employ cutting edge machinery to achieve the targets.
6.Lower Labor Costs
The plastic injection molding process is typically associated with a lower labor cost when compared with other molding methods, which should be attributed to its ability to produce parts to a high quality standard and with a high output rate.During injection molding, minimal supervision is required, as the molding equipment usually runs with a self-gating and automatic tool to keep production streamlined and ongoing.The advantages of plastic injection molding can reduce the cost a lot on this aspect.