Plastic is integral to the manufacturing, healthcare, electrical, plumbing, aerospace, construction, packaging, and energy generation industries. According to a 2019 study by George Mason University’s Center for Collision Safety, plastic composites can absorb four times the amount of impact of steel, making cars safer for drivers and passengers.
These achievements are only possible through the use of specialized injection molding tools and techniques. These technologies are always changing, so it can be difficult to keep up.
Below are some of the newest, most inventive technologies being used in injection molding. Keep reading to find out how they make it possible to produce better yet cheaper plastic components.
Micromolding
The ability to create a small component is one thing. To be able to do it over and over again with the level of precision necessary for proper function is another challenge altogether.
Micromolding is a very specialized niche within the plastic injection molding sector. It involves creating parts that are sometimes under one gram in weight and millimeters in diameter.
Micro injection molding helps make better products that are lighter and less expensive. Smartphones are one of the main industries that have benefited from this innovation.
Gas-Assisted Injection Molding
The more intricate the component, the more difficult it can be to ensure the molten plastic fills every crevice of the mold. This is where gas-assisted injection molding comes in.
This process involves injecting the melted resin like you normally would. Then technicians force nitrogen into the mold through a specially-designed inlet.
This provides pressure that pushes the resin to every extremity throughout the mold. It also provides other benefits, such as less shrinkage and warpage in parts.
Overmolding
Overmolding is an injection molding process that involves two distinct components, where one is molded onto the opt of the other. You may hear called “two-shot” molding since it involves two separate steps.
The first involves creating a basic plastic part. After it cures, it is placed inside another mold. Then, injection molding technology is used to produce the second layer around the original one
A common example is creating a plastic part with a softer exterior, such as silicon. Or, you might use nylon to make a harder, more protective shell.
Insert Molding
One of the most innovative and useful injection molding tools is the ability to insert components as a part of the finished part. Specialized machines place the components, often metal ones, like bolts, shafts, or spindles, inside the mold.
Technicians then inject resin into the mold. It encapsulates the part and hardens. This creates a single component out of the combined ones.
Learn More About the Latest Injection Molding Tools
Now that you have an idea of the latest technology in injection molding tools, you will have a better understanding of how they contribute to higher-quality parts. These innovations together allow the production of almost any design or configuration.
Nova Stevensville provides the highest quality plastic components to a variety of industries. We serve both the automotive sector and non-automotive companies alike. Reach out to us today to learn more about our services and products.
