Injection molding is a manufacturing process for producing plastic injection molds from both thermoplastic and thermosetting plastic materials. Material is fed into a heated barrel, mixed, and forced into a mold cavity by a reciprocating screw or a ram injector, where the injection molded part cools and hardens to the configuration of the mold cavity.
Injection molding is widely used for manufacturing a variety of parts, from the smallest component to entire body panels of cars. Injection molding is the most common method of production, with some commonly made injection molded items including electronic housings, containers, bottle caps, automotive interiors, pocket combs, and most other plastic products available today.
Plastic Injection
◪ Some advantages of injection molding are high tolerances, repeatability, a wide range of material selection, low labor cost, minimal scrap losses, and little need to finish parts after molding.
◪ Some disadvantages of this process include an expensive tooling investment and the need to prototype, as some custom complex parts may encounter problems during the injection molding process such as warp or surface defects.
◪ Therefore, injection molded parts must be designed with careful molding consideration.
