What is injection molding?

Injection molding is an efficient, effective way to produce refined products, especially those made of plastic. The process is quick, accurate, and saves valuable production time. In fact, using injection molding is a surefire way to produce a quality product according to precise specifications. While there are many molding processes, injection molding has several benefits. When you choose injection molding over any other type, you can expect the following positive outcomes.  

  • High production output rates
  • Full automation
  • The ability to use inserts within mold and filler to add strength to your product
  • Ability to use more than one material at a time when uses co-injection molding
  • Minimal post-production work because injection molding produces a quality, completed finish
  • Minimal waste, as any scrap material may be reground and reused.

Why use injection molding over other methods?

The positive outcomes listed above are the key reasons why injection molding is the preferred production method for plastic and other materials. Most plastic components, from water bottles to precision plastic surgical instruments, can be made accurately with injection molding. Because molds are usually custom-made, products can be crafted with precision and according to the most rigid specifications. Risk of error is reduced during manufacturing with injection molding as well.

What are the design limitation of injection molding?

Injection molding is a versatile process, but it is not without flaw. If you are looking to have a custom order produced using injection molding, be aware that design can be limited if you select a company without the tools to do precision customization. In most cases, the size and scope of the job matters. For example, if your product is to be completed in one continuous piece, the injection molding equipment only works on set parameters. This means that the molding and cutting jobs with multiple pieces might be easier than jobs that require one continuous piece. Different designs will require different specifications. You want to ensure that the company you choose to trust with your design can handle unique specifications in order to produce an effective product.

Overall, there are great reasons to use injection molding to manufacture your products. However, the accuracy and precision of the plastic molding process cannot be achieved without top-of-the-line tools, cutting edge products and high quality service. At Hi-Craft Engineering, we specialize in customization. With 38 injection and shuttle molding machines to meet your product needs, our team goes above and beyond to ensure you receive a flawless, quality product every time.