Benefits of Plastic Injection Molding
1. Plastic injection molding is extremely popular
Plastic injection molding is the most popular process in developing plastic parts, such as fasteners. Because of the processes’ popularity, there are many injection mold machine manufacturers, and repairs to a injection molding machine are relatively easy to come by.
2. Super flexible in design
Injection molded parts have an almost limitless amount of flexibility, no matter what the size of the produced parts.
3. High efficiency in mass production
While it takes a while to setup a machine – once the injection molds have been designed to specification and the presses have been programmed, the actual molding process is very fast compared to other molding methods. The plastic injection molding process can mass produce parts, all from a a single mold. The high production output rate of plastic injection molding allows it to be more cost effective and efficient.
How fast can each part be made? It depend on how many impressions (part molds) are in the tool, but typically cycle times can run between 15 and 30 seconds.
4. Significant strength enhancement
The plastic injection process offers a unique option within applications where parts need to be strong or durable. In plastic injection molding, it is possible to use fillers in the molds. What these fillers do is to reduce the plastic’s density while also adding greater strength to the molded part.
5. Allows the use of multiple plastic types, simultaneously
Through the process of co-injection molding, one major advantage of plastic injection molding is the ability to include different types of plastic simultaneously. Co-injection molding is the process of introducing two compatible materials into a single injection mold where the core material is completely encapsulated. The benefits of this process include allowing increased strength, reduced costs, and other potential beneficial properties such as reduced energy usage due to a secondary plastic’s reduced melting point.
6. Reduced Waste
Most plastics can be recycled, and the injection molding process allows for recycled plastics (through grinding it up and melting it all over again). Additionally, because of the high tolerances on part molds, there is less waste within the original manufacturing process.
7. Lower labor costs
Because the plastic injection molding is an automated process, a majority of the process is performed by machines, computers, and robotics – all of which a sole operator can control and manage. Automation helps to reduce manufacturing costs through this lower labor cost, thereby reducing overall overhead.
Additionally, post production labor work is typically minimal because the parts usually already a very finished look upon production.
