Injection Molding Process
Injection molding, reaction injection molding,
rotational molding, blow molding, compression molding, extrusion molding, casting,
transfer molding, thermoforming, vacuum-forming and blown film extrusion Molding
plastic to transform it into needed shapes request many processes which. Each
method has it own benefits and requests specific expertise and skill to
execute. Injection molding process is one of the most widely used. This article
is a brief description of each Injection Molding Process step.
Injection Molding is a high production
process to build thermoplastic parts into shapes ranging from simple to complex.
Injection mould cavities are filled with melted plastic material that is forced
under high pressure then through a gate into the cavity. The material is cooled
to the point that the material is solid and then ejected from the mould as a
finished part.
Reaction injection molding is similar to
injection molding. It requests a curing reaction to occur within the mold.
Rotational molding involves a heated hollow
mold which is filled with a charge or shot weight of material. The mold
continues to rotate at all time to avoid sagging or deformation also during the
cooling phase.
Blow molding is used to create hollow
plastic parts for example bottles and jars in large volume. The blow molding
process begins with melting down the plastic and forming it into a parison or
preform. The parison is then clamped into a mould and air is pumped into it.
Once the plastic is cooled and hardened the molds open up and the part is
ejected.
Compression molding is used to process many
varieties of thermoset plastics and composites including phenolic, epoxy,
melamine, and dially phthalate. Shapes that can result from extrusion include
T-sections, U-sections, square sections, I-sections, L-sections and circular
sections.
Extrusion molding is a manufacturing
process used to make pipes, hoses, tracks, rods, and fibre. The granules melt
into a liquid which is forced through a die, forming a long ‘tube like’ shape.
Rotocasting uses self-curing resins in an
unheated mould, and shares slow rotational speeds in common with rotational
moulding.
Transfer Moulding is another method to
mold thermoset materials where the design of the part is too complicated or
unsuitable for compression moulding. It is used when metal inserts, studs,
connector pins wear plates, electronic components or other parts are molded
into the part.
Thermoforming is a manufacturing
process when a plastic sheet is heated to a pliable forming temperature, formed
to a particular shape in a mold.
Blown Film Extrusion is used in the
manufacture of plastic film for products such as shopping bags and continuous
sheeting. This process is the same as a regular extrusion process up until the
die.
If you want to learn more about injection molding services, please contact TEAM Rapid at [email protected] today.