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Top 5 Advantages of Injection Molding You Should Know

If you have ever purchased an item that is plastic from a store, that item was likely manufactured using injection molding. There are many advantages of using injection molding. Injection Molding is a manufacturing process used to produce plastic products and components. The process involves injecting molten material into molds that form the product. Injection molding can use many different materials, but thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers are the most common. There are many products made using this process, and some of those are bottle caps, electronic housings, toys, and many more.

There are some substantial advantages of injection molding, and we want to share 5 of these advantages in this article. If you are searching for a flexible manufacturing process, read more to learn how these advantages can benefit your business.

Products Made from Injection Molding

The injection molding industry has exceeded all projections and shows no signs of slowing down. Current projections show that the market will grow by over 476 billion by 2028. New items are manufactured using the injection molding process daily. Plastic injection molding manufacturers have partnered with many industries, enabling companies within those industries to produce cheaper and more creative product designs.

Household Appliance Industry

Household appliances are in every home in the world. When we think of kitchen appliances, we think of stoves, refrigerators, and dishwashers. Each of these items includes many molded parts. But we often forget things like heater shells, hand warmers, rice cooker shells, handheld fans, humidifier shells, stirring machines, air conditioner shells, hairdryer shells, TV shells, and so many more. It is difficult to identify a product that does not have molded plastic as a part of its design.

Cosmetic Packaging Industry

The cosmetic industry is also a massive user of injection molded products. Specifically, cosmetics need packaging, where injection molding comes into the picture. Historically, glass was used for packaging cosmetics, but other options were sought due to cost, weight, and damage potential. Some typical packaging for cosmetics are tubes, powder boxes, eyebrow pencils, makeup bottles, and most cosmetic product packaging found in stores worldwide.

Toy Industry

It wouldn’t be easy to find a single child without a toy. The makeup of toys has evolved over the years from being made with metal materials to various plastics. The change in toy materials has enabled designers and manufacturers to be more creative, resulting in more advanced and innovative creations. Some toys include cars, trucks, barbie dolls, balls, remote-controlled cars, and small playsets. Plastic injection molding manufacturers and designers have also learned that this innovative process can make smaller components necessary to build a toy. Some smaller parts are wheels, buttons, clips, screws, bolts, nuts, and other small pieces needed to assemble a toy. These examples are a portion of toys and components but give us a taste of the advantages of injection molding.

Medical Industry

The medical industry is a large consumer of products using injection molding. Due to the need for sterilization, many items used by hospitals, doctors, and staff must be thrown away. This would be very costly using metal or cloth products. New possibilities are available now that plastic injection molding manufacturers use this new process. Examples of items used in the medical industry are tubes, syringes, connectors, clips, vials, bottles, containers, housings for small and large equipment, blood pressure cuffs, and so on.

Household

Injection molding has many advantages, and it is easy to see by just looking around your surroundings. We can’t overlook the average home and the products we use daily. I look around the rooms in my house, and there are so many plastic products within reach. Food containers, forks, knives, spoons, bottles, bottle caps, cups, drinkware, plant pots, television housing, computer housings, toothbrush handles, toothpaste tubes, and more.

There are numerous advantages of injection molding, evident in the previous examples. However, some specific advantages of injection molding benefit manufacturers and designers. This article will cover five benefits plastic injection molding manufacturers can leverage to grow their business.

5 Advantages of Using Injection Molding

Injection molding has numerous advantages:

  1. The Ability to Make Products Consistent within Tolerances

Historically, we could hold two of the same product side by side, and almost always, each item would be somewhat unique. I could always find some variation in size, shape, or weight. Injection molding advancements have revolutionized Plastic injection molding manufacturers’ approach to producing consistent parts. The injection molding process and the machines used can hold tolerances to +/- .125 mm (.005 in). The reason is that steel molds are made to the exact dimensions and shape of the product. If the pieces are small enough, a mold is created that can produce multiple parts with each injection. This results in each piece being 100% exact and uniform. This process thoroughly removes inconsistencies in the manufacturing of parts and components. An inherent advantage of injection molding is that by using molds, there is little to no effort in forming pieces and maintaining tolerances, lowering injection mold costs.

  1. Increased Production of Parts

In the past, machines would stamp out metal parts, or humans would manually make components using templates. Not only did consistency suffer, but so did productivity. A machine producing a single piece or a human making a part one by one is labor intensive and, therefore, expensive. A  significant advantage of injection molding is increased productivity with less human work resulting in lower injection mold costs. Plastic injection molding manufacturers’ can mass-produce parts and pieces. These components are made with 100% accuracy in one pass by simply injecting material into the molds and allowing the required cooling time. Other processes like CNC machining and 3D printing require more time and expertise. Mass production at lower injection molding costs is a clear advantage.

  1. Compatible with Many Materials and Colors

Plastic injection molding manufacturers’ are no longer limited to the materials and colors available to produce products. It is estimated to be over 18,000 different materials available that are compatible with the injection molding process. Further, suppose a part or piece needs to be manufactured using specific additives and compounds. In that case, finding materials that match your need is more accessible. When it comes to colors, almost every color is available. This allows for great flexibility for plastic injection molding manufacturers.

  1. Low Labor Costs

Yet another advantage of injection molding is lower labor costs. Plastic injection molding manufacturers use mostly machines to mass produce parts and pieces. The only human labor required is supervision and staff to perform quality checks. This is another clear advantage for plastic injection molding manufacturers as the less staffing, the lower the injection mold costs.

  1. Material Recyclability

In current society, people are more conscious of protecting the earth, and recycling is now a part of our everyday routine. One of the main advantages of injection molding is that the material used in the process is 100% recyclable. Plastics can be repurposed many times and make manufacturers and consumers more conscious of the environment.

 

Conclusion

The advantages of injection molding range from lower labor and higher productivity to lower injection mold costs. Plastic injection molding manufacturers can benefit from these advantages and so many more. There are very few products not able to use the injection molding process.

Out of the numerous plastic injection molding manufacturers available, one is set apart from the rest – Abery. Our mission is to keep customers successful on all our critical projects. Exporting to all parts of the world, we are well-positioned to be the game-changing strategic partner. Abery has deep experience working within all sectors and industries, and our portfolio is broad.

Abery’s facilities are state-of-the-art, leveraging advanced equipment. Abery incorporates complete quality control into every aspect of its manufacturing process resulting in precise manufactured parts and pieces. Click to Learn More.

Precision Injection Molding vs. Mold: What’s the Difference?

With the advances in injection molding leaping ahead over the past few decades, there has been some growing confusion in consumers’ understanding of the primary differences between precision injection molding and ordinary mold manufacturers.

At its core, the argument comes down to the precise measurements and specifications of one need and how the other is a stage in a larger process. How you will differentiate between the two will most likely come down to the types of parts you require and your industry. For example, where the aerospace industry may need a highly formulated injection, a toy company may be okay with a standard mold. Either way, the process will determine the type of mold and material.

Digging a bit deeper will help you gain an understanding of what you should look for in a quality injection molding manufacturer for your business needs.

Getting the Details of Each Form

It helps to first define what each process is before going further. This way, the confusion is pushed out of the way, and further details can be explored so you can make a quality decision about which is right for you.

  • Precision Injection Molding – This is the process of plastic material being heated and solidified into a particular shape that a mold creates. This allows for more precise molded parts that can be calculated to such levels of accuracy needed in healthcare, engineering, automotive, aerospace, and research-based industries.
  • Precise Mold – This is a mold hollowed out from a block that sets the shape of the product being made. You see this step in the process used in many of the “how they were made” videos on YouTube as they are highly valuable for mass production of parts that need to be accurate.

However, it is essential to note that precise molds can be used in the precision injection molding process.

Mold as a Tool

When you think about precision injection molding, put it in the framework of a process and not a single option. The plastic injection molding factor relies on creating molds, no matter the product type. This is to ensure the crafted final product perfectly fits the precise measurements of the order, following a process like:

Step 1: Analyze the Design

Look at the CAD or drawing created by the client and begin to understand what types of molds will be needed to make the product parts.

Step 2: Make DFM Report

The Design for Manufacturability report includes the specific features of the product part and how it will be created according to the technology availability and measurement requirements.

Step 3: Make Moldflow Analysis

This involves simulating the flow of plastic that provides a sneak peek into how the material will fill the mold’s cavities and outlines any potential problem spots or challenges.

Step 4: Design Mold Drawing & Get Client Confirmation

Develop the final specifications of the precision mold that will be created and ensure the client is agreed to these final decisions.

Step 5: Make Molds

This is where precision injection molding and molds finally interact. Using the advanced technology in the industry, mold manufacturers form a mold based on the agreed-upon specifications that is then injected with plastic materials to create the product part.

The more precise this mold is, the better the part will fulfill the accuracy requirements of the client, regardless of industry.

Importance of Precision Injection Molding Manufacturer Selection

While the difference between precision injection molding and actual precision molds may seem like a small factor to some, you want to select a manufacturer that understands the difference. Finding a professional team with the resources and dedication to quality product outcomes is essential.

Abery is a plastic injection molding manufacturer renowned for its premium equipment and exceptional dedication to precious molding outcomes. We are a one-stop solution for getting the precise parts you need for anything from tiny elements in an innovative piece of medical equipment to a necessary component for aerospace design.

As a manufacturer and integrated team, you can gain access to our mold designers, CNC programmers, tooling makers, and support technicians to ensure everything is moving smoothly for your order. If you need high-quality precision injection molding, you need Abery.

Top 4 Plastic Injection Molding Quality Standards You Should Know

plastic mold manufacturers

High-efficiency plastic molding allows you to manufacture customized parts for a wide array of applications. However, just going through the basic motions is not enough to ensure the durability and longevity of produced pieces. That is why specific plastic injection molding quality standards should be applied through the process so that every piece meets a client’s needs and use cases.

With modern technology and experienced experts working with the machinery, you can get a strong, precise, and cost-effective solution for your part needs. Here are some more insights into the various standards that should be followed for the best outcomes, including how plastic mold manufacturers make sure each mold is precise.

plastic mold manufacturers

Factors that May Affect Quality

No plastic injection molding quality standard is going to be 100% effective. That is because there are so many moving parts in the process. However, a quality manufacturer will include standards that reduce the error rate to an almost minuscule amount. This translates into no problems on the client end and a high-quality piece. Factors included in this calculation include:

  • Proportions and Dispersion of Materials and Additive Contents

The point of quality material fillers and fillers is to reinforce the final product with stronger, more durable solutions. This can be a challenge because you must find the correct measurements to create a balance. You need a producer that uses plastic injection molding quality standards for material and additives that can be measured to ensure the right amounts.

  • Plastic Melting Temperature

Temperature plays a critical role in precision plastic injection molding. It can affect the resin viscosity, molecular weight, and any part shrinkage. This critical plastic injection molding quality standard must be observed and accounted for during every production.

  • Pressure

Pressure is used to push the melting plastic resin into the predetermined mold cavity (without about 95% capacity). This is balanced against any clamping pressure. The goal of this plastic injection molding quality standard is to reduce production costs by maximizing the number of parts made per hour without sacrificing quality of any kind. Again, an experienced manufacturing team will understand how to walk this thin line the best.

  • Cooling Time

Cooling is the most time-consuming part of the injection molding cycle because it requires a part to be fully cooled before refining and moving on to the next production phase. The piece must have moved from liquefied resin to a solid form inside the mold cavity. Then it can be properly ejected and worked into the precise measurement requirements of the client.

plastic injection molding quality standards

Standards of High-Precision Plastic Injection Molding

When a piece has been made, it must meet the different plastic injection molding quality standards not only for the manufacturer but those set for the client. These are created so that everyone in the production process understands the target end goal with precise measurements that could include:

  • Correct Size

Most mold tools are designed to be slightly oversized in case of material shrinkage. Deciding on the correct material and tolerance standards will help ensure the correct final output size. That includes working with angles, leftover material, and other refining elements to finish the piece production. Many clients require highly precise parts to the thousandth degree of accuracy.

  • Accurate Color

Not only does color represent safety or aesthetic value to differentiate a product from competitors, but it can change the material value of the part. That is why selecting the best possible color is an integral plastic injection molding quality standard – especially on the part of the client. Remember, a color can be to make a product attractive to downstream users just as much as serving a practical purpose (orange for safety, red for warning, etc.).

  • Suitable Luster

Many clients require a surface finish or luster to their part design. This can affect the flow, texture, and mold material as it moves through manufacturing. Suppose this is a consideration of the client. In that case, an experienced team should offer advice on how these lusters will affect the final product design so compensations and corrections can be made to lower any risk of defect or quality control issues.

  • No Molding Defects

Probably the most important plastic injection molding quality standard from the client is the idea of no molding defects. They require a part without weld lines, sink marks, short shots, burn marks, flashing, or anything else that could ruin the aesthetics or functionality of the piece. As these defects can impact precision, it makes sense that this is critical to quality outcomes.

Trust the Team at Abery

For years, Abery has focused on meeting plastic injection molding quality standards set internally and by the vast array of national and international clients who return time and time again to this professional team. With a well-trained and motivated set of technicians, Abery is capable of meeting any quality needs, so the final product created meets the aesthetic and functional value proposed by the client. To get started on your business, reach out to us today and begin the process of getting the parts you need for moving forward.

Top 7 Tips to Maintain the Custom Injection Mold

Plastic molding is critical in any injection molding industry as it is the backbone of many manufacturing processes. Companies have to maintain their custom injection mold frequently as it will help them make the perfect products at an affordable price. As custom injection molds are supposed to work under extreme temperature conditions, only the timely maintenance can increase this machinery’s lifespan and the products’ preciseness.

Why Should You Maintain the Custom Injection Mold?

To be more specific, the reasons why maintaining the mold are as follows:

● To reduce the abrasion of parts

Without maintenance, custom injection molds will get abrasive, resulting in a poor end product. An abrasive nozzle of the mold will not only impact the flow rate of the outgoing material but can also result in the adulteration of the plastic, eventually diminishing the quality of the manufactured products.

● To prolong the service life

Lack of regular or improper maintenance harms the custom injection mold itself, increasing the rate of cracking, deforming, or partial wear, reducing the mold’s lifespan. So, you have to do proper maintenance in order to increase the service life of your molds.

● To save extra expenses for a company

If your molds expire sooner than expected due to poor maintenance, it will be a major setback for any company. Thus, proper maintenance is the only way to increase the life period of any machine and save your company big money.

 

How to Maintain the Custom Injection Mold

Always take care of the following steps whenever you start your mold maintenance:

1. Clean the surface of the injection mold before installation

First of all, always clean the surface of the injection mold before installing it to ensure that no foreign matter is stuck to the surface. Any abnormality at the surface should be immediately removed as it will disturb every batch of the process otherwise.

2. Check all parts of the injection mold after production

You must ensure whether all the parts of the injection mold are being screwed properly or not after production. This is because any ignorance at this stage can even dismantle the machinery during working, which can have hazardous consequences.

3. Clean the injection mold after production

Once you are done with the production, clean every part of the machine to prepare it for the next batch. As injection molding is a batch process, this post-production cleaning is necessary to make the production of the next batch perfect. Without this, the next batch can get messy.

4. Provide rust removal regularly

Providing rust removals to your custom injection mold is crucial as the machine would be rusted otherwise. As the corrosion rate of the metal doubles with every 10-degree increase in the temperature, you must take this step seriously as plastic molding is a heat-intensive process. With so much heat involved in it, rust removal should be a routine activity.

5. Provide burr removal regularly

To make the manufacturing process smooth, you need to remove any dirt, burr, or plastic remaining in the injection molds. The formation of burr in the custom injection molds is normal, typically happening at the mold’s sharp edges. So, you must apply burr removal tactics in order to keep the process perfect.

6. Lubricate corresponding parts of the injection mold

Just like any other machine, lubrication helps custom injection molds as well. When you lubricate the corresponding parts of the injection mold, it minimizes any friction, excessive heat, and even the corrosion of the machine, resulting in a longer life span of the machine and precise injection products.

7. Replace or repair damaged parts

Whenever you see any damaged part in your custom injection mold, the first thing you have to do is to either replace that part or repair it. If you do not do that, the damaged part will destroy other parts of the machine. Worse, you cannot get the precise products in the presence of any damaged part, which makes their repair important.

 

ABERY’s Custom Injection Mold Meets Your Expectation

Abery brings highly precise injection molds that can be used in various applications. Even with tight tolerances of up to +/-0.001MM, the cycle time of these molds is short, increasing the working efficiency. Abery takes the detailed input of every client before manufacturing these molds, making our products custom injection molds in the true sense. We use LKM’s steel, which is one of the most qualitative steel manufacturers. We also provide high dimensional accuracy for products which makes us stand out from the crowd.

Wrapping Up

We at Abery are impacting the decisions of the global industries, as our injection molds are exported to the likes of Europe and America. Our in-house production team manages to inspire the global manufacturers by providing continuous high-profile molds needed for the success of any plastic molding business. Being a mold manufacturer that always pursues perfection, Abery believes that our rigorous designs and high-quality products can win every client’s trust.

 

How to Gain the Perfect Custom Plastic Injection Mold?

Have you ever wondered why consumers and manufacturers most likely beg to differ? It’s because they both have different expectations of the same project. Consumers prefer to have a product compatible with modern age technology and possesses multifunctional features, whereas the manufacturers focus on the accuracy and efficiency of their production lines. The same has happened to the custom plastic injection mold manufacturing market, where mold manufacturers have witnessed a drastic spike in demand for customized plastic injection mold production.

 

What is Custom Injection Molding?

Injection molding is considered to be among the most traditional techniques for manufacturing custom plastic items. The typical process initiates by heating specific synthetic substances (polymers) like plastic adhesives. Once the plastic material has been liquefied by the heat, the molten plastic is then injected into a custom mold involving high pressure. In the end, the molded plastic is cooled down to obtain the final solidified product shape. In other words, the custom plastic injection mold procedure can be summarized in the following six critical steps:

  • Mold clamping.
  • Molten material injection.
  • Dwelling (injection pause while applying pressure).
  • Cooling for solidification.
  • Mold opening.
  • Extraction of the final product.

Especially for making plastic components, custom injection molding is regarded as the epitome of manufacturing techniques for achieving bespoke aesthetics and intricate details. Using this method, manufacturers execute precise mold manufacturing in substantial volumes.

 

Factors to Consider Before Getting a Custom Plastic Injection Mold

Some of the factors to consider before getting a custom plastic injection mold are given below:

  • Parts Shape and Size

Before anything else, take into account the specifications of your project needs. For instance, the particular design of your custom plastic injection mold, depending on the parts’ shape and size, plays a crucial role in producing desired parts. However, you don’t need to worry about the complexity of your ordered design parts because custom plastic injection mold manufacturing is ideal for precise mold production, regardless of the design’s complicated features.

  • Production Quantity

Before getting a custom plastic injection mold, note that most businesses prefer to replicate the same part in bulk quantity since expensive industrial-grade material stirs up the tooling cost for low-volume production orders. Therefore, high-volume production is the right way to go, as the high cost of quality materials and tooling gets compensated by the larger production runs.

  • Parts Material

For perfectly made custom plastic injection molds, the material selection process of parts and hence molds is the key. The industrial-grade, high-quality material will yield maximum results, while the cheap material might naturally do the opposite of good. Accordingly, a professional mold manufacturer would recommend avoiding certain harsh materials (like glass-filled plastic, glass-filled nylon, etc.). Instead, you should select mold materials that provide rigidity and durability to withstand the potential harm that certain abrasive materials can cause the precise mold.

  • Budget

Lastly, here comes the budget for your custom plastic injection mold making. The expenditures you probably want to be concerned about are mostly related to the mold manufacturing tooling cost and design-associated aspects. For instance, the degree of intricate design features decides the correct mold shape and size required to proceed with the part production. However, the top-quality mold manufacturing material would also add to the cost per unit value.

Not only has that, but the specific color and particular texture (surface finishing) demands will also create a spike in your limited budget. Thus, a piece of wise advice here would be to try to measure your non-standard requirements before emptying your pockets all at once.

 

How to Gain Perfect Custom Precise Molds?

Although custom plastic injection mold manufacturing seems quite a straightforward process to operate, in reality, it is the other way around. Even a slight mistake in a single production stage can waste a lot of money on expensive materials and delay the assigned lead time. That’s how many businesses lose a fortune and watch their particular project go down the drain – they fail to recognize the suitable mold manufacturer for the job and end up betting on the wrong horse.

But you don’t need to make the same mistake and face the same consequences. Instead, an intelligent move is only to consult a professional mold manufacturer who is reliable and an expert precise mold supplier, and none else can meet all these qualities better than the one and only Abery.

Why Should You Choose Abery as The Mold Supplier?

There are countless reasons to choose Abery as your precise mold supplier – the following are a few of the benefits that Abery has to offer as your custom plastic injection mold manufacturer:

  • From different injection molding machines to other advanced equipment, we are well-equipped to meet all your precise mold demands.
  • We can quickly achieve quality control and your tighter tolerance requirements with an accurate and accurate mold tolerance capacity of up to +/-0.01mm.
  • Abery relies upon our impeccably skilled engineering team for all your technical specifications and optimized solutions, ranging from design to fabrication.
  • We run a fully optimized control system to monitor every step of the production. Hence, your shorter lead times are always met without any uninformed delays.
  • At last, not only do we have a quick response time of only 24 hours but our exceptional after-sales services are also admired by our valuable customers.

 

Conclusion

To not overlook the significant matter of selecting the proper mold manufacturer, you need to research the precise mold supplier you think thoroughly is the one. Here we would again like to mention that you can’t go wrong if you choose Abery, which is trusted worldwide. Mainly, we specialize in custom plastic injection mold manufacturing, but our remarkable machinery collection also enables us to deal with other kinds of CNC manufacturing operations.

Consequently, we proudly export various absolute best injection molds and parts to technologically advanced places like Europe, the USA, and others. So, what are you waiting for? Get an instant quote today and let Abery’s creative side exceed your imagination.

Everything You Should Know About Injection Molding Parts

Almost every industry benefits from using injection molding technology. It is an affordable, consistent, and reliable way of applying complex injection molding parts. Though you can see them anywhere from car parts to a tiny hub, their production condition is quite complex to have a deep understanding of. Injection molding is the standard method of producing plastic parts these days. But some require more finesse than others. Not all manufacturers have what it takes to deliver specialized injection molding parts with stringent specifications. In this article, you will learn about the complexity of injection molding parts and how to pick an injection mold supplier who can provide them.

Applications Of Injection Molding Parts

Injection molding parts are prevalent in various diverse fields. Each field has specific requirements for quality and finesse. Here are some examples of their usage:

  1. Hospital Equipment

Plastic components are prevalent in hospital equipment. Many kinds of modules use injection molding parts these days due to their being more accessible. Examples include medical projection lamp housings, molded clear boxes, and clear light pipes.

Medical parts usually have precise requirements too. The projection lamp housings, for example, require certified high-quality raw materials. They also need to have zero contamination, requiring a specialized molding room.

The finished product needs high-quality polishing to ensure clarity. Its light also needs to be parallel.

  1. House Detecting

Detection devices come in many shapes and sizes and have different functions. But most of those devices use plastic housings. Those plastic housings are usually injection molding parts.

The detection devices need to have a robust constitution. They need both durability and flexibility. That’s why the hard and soft parts are molded separately in an over-molding process.

These parts also require premium quality plastic. However, they do not need any more extra detail.

  1. Automobile

The automobile industry uses many injection molding parts in its manufacturing process. These parts usually tend to be more durable but do not require delicate finishing. Oil pump manifold hub and ventilation housings are excellent examples of injection molded parts used in the automobile industry.

The oil pump manifold is a bit tricky because it needs metal insertion. So, the finished product has steel or other metal embedded in the hub. The high-quality oil pump manifolds need to meet DME or Hasco modular standards.

The ventilation housings are straightforward. The injection mold needs good quality materials and proper calibration to make them.

How to Meet the Quality Requirements for Injection Molding Parts?

As you can see from the descriptions above, injection molding parts can require a lot of expertise. Injection molding is a widespread thing these days. But that does not mean every manufacturer is equal.

Some manufacturers may fail to deliver the desired quality. So, finding a reliable injection mold supplier is essential if you want cutting-edge products. Only a top-tier supplier can meet some of the more stringent requirements.

 

How to Choose a Capable Injection Molds Manufacturer?

You must be clear about how crucial it is to find a good supplier. But finding a top-tier injection molding parts supplier is not an easy task. There are some essential rules to check before deciding if they are worth cooperating with or not.

Here’s a list of criteria you can use to judge them:

 

  1. In-House Production Capability

Some parts suppliers rely on outsourcing to build their inventory. These suppliers can never provide you with specialized products. Medical parts usually have special requirements for the production process.

You would need to find a supplier with in-house production capacity for that. They can adjust their production process based on your needs.

  1. Up-To-Date Production Facilities

Injection molding has been going through many stages of development since the day of its inception. The latest technology can offer more consistent quality without any material waste. High-performance CMM machines, CNC machines, EDM, milling, grinding, drilling machines, and injection machines – all of these up-to-date metal helpers will bring you satisfying products.

  1. Organizational Structure

Structure and discipline are necessary qualities for a reliable injection molding parts supplier. Poorly organized facilities can cause significant delays in delivery or even deliver unqualified products. Therefore, you are in need of finding an injection mold supplier who has a clear project flow and production schedule.

  1. Employees with Know-How and Competence

Lastly, the supplier needs to have competent employees. Incompetent employees can ruin a project even with the best equipment. Hence, you should pick a supplier that has a good track record.

Conclusion

The demand for injection molding parts is pretty high these days. But there are too many injection mold manufacturers out there, so it gets tough to choose a reliable supplier. So far, many clients have had an excellent experience with Abery. We are very reliable with our management, delivery, and, most importantly, high-quality products. Therefore, feel free to contact us at Abery and get a one-stop solution for injection molding parts!

6 Tips to Avoid Cracking in Custom Plastic Injection Molding

Custom plastic injection molding requires a lot of attention to detail. It is common for cracks to appear on the molded part if one does not know how to avoid them. But knowing those can be difficult without a lot of experience in the field.

One needs a thorough understanding of the reasons behind the appearance of these cracks. Only then can they successfully avoid them. You will find everything you need to know about injection molding cracks here.

What Is Cracking in Injection Molding?

Cracks are not uncommon in custom plastic injection molding, and they appear on the products in different ways. Some cracks are more problematic than others – but all of them are equally annoying. There are internal cracks, corner cracks, and even cracks that start at the gate.

These cracks are exceedingly harmful to the molded object because they cause integrity issues. It gets even worse if you need to fit that molded part to something larger. A competent manufacturer should never allow a compromised piece to pass through their production line.

 

Reasons Why the Molded Parts Crack

Contrary to popular belief, the custom plastic mold design has little to do with the formation of cracks in molded objects. The true culprits of custom plastic injection molding are the ones we have listed below:

  1. Machine

The plasticizing capacity of the machine is a crucial part of crack-free injection molding. A low-capacity machine cannot handle mixing the inserted material volume, leading to cracks. An overly large machine will also degrade the quality as there is a chance of over mixing. So, select the right machine according to your production to ensure optimum efficiency.

So, be vigilant about the plasticizing capacity of your injection molding machine according to your production volume and type.

  1. Mold

The molds play a significant role in custom plastic injection molding. It is usually the most important thing after the main machine. A bad mold can mess up the ratio and distribution of the molten plastic. That will usually lead to cracks and other issues for the finished object.

Burrs and other undercut conditions in the mold can cause cracks too. Ejector designs can also be probable culprits. In other words, you need a professional plastic injection mold design for your products.

  1. Material

Material integrity is essential for custom plastic injection molding. The quality of a molded part depends heavily on the material used in the manufacturing process. High-quality material naturally produces better results.

Reclaimed or recycled plastics usually have lower quality. That can lead to cracks. The moisture content of the material also plays a role. Too much moisture can cause cracks during the cooling process.

  1. Molding operation

Some molded parts require more cooling time than others. A short cooling time usually causes cracks and other defects to these parts. That is also true for molding under too much pressure. Some plastic molds need to work under less residual stress to show the best result.

How to Avoid Cracking in Custom Plastic Injection Molding

Now that you know what’s causing the cracks, we believe you are ready to fix them. Follow these tips to avoid cracks:

  1. Remove Burrs

Burrs are always a nuisance. They can cause deformity and cracks if left untreated. Do a regular inspection to identify and remove burrs to get crack-free molded parts.

  1. Install More Knockout Pins

You need to distribute the stress evenly to avoid agitating any part of the molded object. Try installing more knockout pins. They should help maintain even stress.

  1. Use Less Reclaimed Materials

Reclaimed or recycled materials or pallets tend to have poorer quality compared to new plastic pallets. The reuse of plastic over and over again does slowly wear its polymeric structure every time it is reused.

So, using reclaimed plastics that have gone through too many cycles can cause imperfections in the finished product, leading to cracks. Reduce the amount of reclaimed material you use. If possible, avoid them entirely to get better results.

  1. Remove Moisture

Removing moisture content from custom plastic injection molding will reduce the cracking issue since the moisture inside the materials does harm to the full mixture inside the mold. Dry all your plastics before starting the process.

  1. Increase the Cooling Time

If your cooling time is too short, consider increasing it, and it will give you a much better result. A longer cooling time will keep the mold confined longer, leaving more time for the injection parts to fuse together. That will help create a better outer layer.

  1. Reduce Holding Pressure

Use accurate material volume to reduce the pressure of the molding process. Less pressure will reduce the cracking. You could try with a 50% holding pressure to get a uniform packing. Holding pressure is usually set around 70% for most projects.

Conclusion

Custom plastic injection molding depends a lot on the materials and tools you use. That’s why we always advise people to look for the best plastic injection mold supplier. We at Abery use the latest technology to create the best injection molds in the industry that ensure 100% crack-free injection molding.

Contact us to learn more about how our molds can improve your production.

How Does Abery Keep Growing in Plastic Injection Mold Manufacturing?

injection mold maker

Plastic injection mold manufacturing is currently experiencing a renaissance of new product development due to new technology supporting more reliable outcomes. The versatile nature of mold capabilities is completely tailor-made thanks to the innovation of industry leaders picking up the reigns and developing phenomenal solutions.

As technology and consumer demand force products across all industries to become smaller and more bespoke in design, the need for more custom-made injection molding services is becoming more apparent. Due to automation and 3D modeling, plastic injection mold manufacturing is now rapidly increasing, creating excellent opportunities for this industry to grow and thrive in the modern world.

The Four Major Trends in the Plastic Injection Molding Industry

Like every other sector, new developments lead to higher innovation and adoption. This is apparent with plastic injection mold manufacturers that are embracing benefits and trends resulting in higher revenues and customer satisfaction. These include:

 

  1. Growing Market Concentration – those plastic injection mold manufacturers that are not adapting to market trends or customer demands are being outbid by veteran and flexible companies willing to go the extra mile for clients.
  2. Development of Advanced Tech & Devices – For plastic injection mold manufacturing to meet the growing market concentration, more emphasis is being placed on highly specialized technology that operates using robotics or modern AI automation to reduce operating costs.
  3. Increasing Production Efficiency – data-driven insights into optimization, scrap reduction, and preventative maintenance are increasing the overall efficiency from producing these high-quality outcomes in plastic injection mold manufacturing.
  4. Reaction to Diversified Needs using Powerful Customizations – the more advanced the tools being utilized for production, the greater the capacity for smaller runs of customized molds. That means a more significant share of the target market can be serviced from a single company.

How Abery Grabbed the Chance to Catch These Market Trends

With the writing on the preverbal wall that the only way to thrive in the current marketplace is to adapt with advanced tools and services, a leading provider of plastic injection mold manufacturing, Abery, seized their chance to grow. Some of the methods used to secure this target market include:

 

  • Development of Multiple Services – Abery began offering one-stop solutions to all clients, including custom product design, injection mold making, prototyping, and plastic parts creation. These services earned a greater number of clients that wanted more tailor-made solutions to their product designs.
  • Built a Talented Team – Abery employs some of the best-skilled engineers, designers, molders, and industry experts to maintain and operate their fleet of plastic injection mold manufacturing equipment. This brain trust offers incredible service capabilities to any client seeking a mold solution.
  • Introduction of Advanced Machines – To meet the growing customer demand for customization, Abery invested in state-of-the-art equipment capable of a wide array of plastic mold injections from Bluetooth speakers to anything else a client requires.
  • Shortened Delivery Time – Abery also focused on increasing customers’ satisfaction with smooth and in-time injection molding service. This was accomplished by providing fast delivery of all requested materials, resulting in higher customer appreciation.

 

Client Reviews of Abery’s Products and Services

It is a French-based multinational company providing energy and automation to homes, buildings, data centers, and more. These services combine energy technology with real-time automation. Abery was able to help Schneider with 28 injection molds that are all made with the MOLD MASTER hot runner system. CUMSA special angle lifters were used for certain undercuts, and time constraints were met with a quick approval by Schneider, resulting in a highly satisfied customer and a short lead time.

It provides some of the world’s best-selling automobiles. At that time, their factory in India required new plastic injection mold manufacturing solutions for a ventilation system.  Abery met this demand by offering careful and accurate assembly of each component with a high tolerance of +/-0.02MM. This also included using raw materials made from Nylon GF that operate well in the high-temperature environment so close to the vehicle engine. The result was contributing to the overall function of a high-powered vehicle beloved by consumers everywhere.

 

Where to Get Started

Working with the expert plastic injection mold manufacturing team at Abery has never been easier. To get technical solutions, you can simply fill out the form on our company website or call our support team during regular operational hours. Our highly professional technical team is always ready to listen closely to the needs and designs of each client, resulting in excellent customer service and delivery times.

 

How to Shorten the Injection Molding Time?

The time required for different types of plastics like POM and nylon to finish an entire injection molding cycle is known as the Molding Time. It is basically the integration of the injection period and the cooling period of the process. This cycle is directly related to the productivity of the process.

The shorter the injection molding time, the better it is for the smooth pushing forward of the project. To reduce the injection molding time, someone decreases the temperature of the mold and the heating barrel. If you do this, the cooling time will naturally fall. But the actual influence of the low temperature is far more than that – it may bring unwanted results, such as degraded quality of the molding parts.

Shortening the injection molding time can be a bit tricky, but if you do it correctly, you’ll surely be satisfied with the results!

The Process of Injection Molding

To begin with, let’s look through the whole process of injection molding to see which step can be optimized to decrease the time. There are multiple processes by which precision injection molding can be performed. A few of them are listed below:

1.    Mold clamping

Mold clamping is a technique where two parts of a mold are held together with the help of a clamping unit. The next step is to inject the melted plastic into the mold.

While this is going on, the clamping unit squeezes the two halves together. This clamping process can take from a few seconds to a few minutes.

2.    Plastic injecting

The molding machine intakes plastic pellets and uses the heat that surrounds the barrel to melt them. This melted plastic then goes into the mold. The injection is assumed to be stopped when around 95% of the mold is full.

3.    Pressure holding

After the mold is filled with melted plastic, the clamping unit applies uniform pressure to the two halves throughout the entire time. This ensures the perfect shape of the desired object.

The pressure can be required to be applied for a couple of minutes to even a few hours, depending on the object’s size.

4.    Cooling

Later, the mold has to be kept steady to allow the elements to cool down. This also doesn’t take long unless you’re molding something large.

5.    Release

When the mold has cooled down, you can instantly open it. This doesn’t require much time. But it needs a certain amount of force to release the molding part as the plastic part is compressed and gets stuck to the body of the mold.

How to Shorten Injection Molding Time?

The injection molding time can be reduced if some steps are taken. Those steps are discussed below:

1.    Fasten the clamping

The mold clamping has to be done precisely. This will affect the entire molding time because if the clamp isn’t holding the mold perfectly, it will cause the comparatively low-temperature air to disrupt the process, increasing the molding time. The procedure of accelerating-uniform speed-decelerating operation when clamping is the most important movement to create a perfect molding part.

2.    Decrease back pressure

Backpressure is a term in the injection molding process that usually means the build-up of pressure in the back of the screw that forces it to a particular point. At this point, if the mold is opened, the material will drip out of the mold, causing waste and degrading the quality of the molding part. The backpressure has to be reduced dripping and shorten the plasticization time.

3.    Shorten pressure holding time

Reducing the pressure holding time can be an essential step that can help reduce the injection molding time. The thing you can do is terminate the process the moment the cold runner becomes solid. This will shorten a considerable amount of time spent in this process.

4.    Adapt different ejection methods

Different ejection methods can be helpful for you if you’re looking to reduce injection molding time. The Pneumatic ejection method is a lot faster than the Hydraulic one. However, the Electric ejection method is the best of them all as it’s the fastest.

5.    Lower the temperature of mold and heating barrel

Another thing you can do is decrease the cooling time of the process. This will surprisingly reduce the large amount of time that was being wasted.

Why Should You Choose Abery’s Precise Injection Mold?

Our precise injection molds are made with the latest and greatest innovations in the industry. The excellent designing techniques adapted in Abery’s Precise Injection Mold manufacturing process can help your production time to decrease drastically and with minimal errors.

Moreover, we also offer you the opportunity to customize your creation. High-precision plastic injection molding helps designers be more specific with their designs. The results are almost perfect and consistent practically all of the time.

Our precision injection molding technique allows improved and detailed designs to come alive. Even very sophisticated designs can be transformed into physical objects.

 

Conclusion

The short injection molding time is the reason why Abery can deliver the products in such a short period. The precision injection molding technique of Abery not only provides the mentioned advantages but offers so many other benefits, including in-time project reports, precise molds, and satisfying customer service.

Our strive-for-perfection attitude and expertise on plastic injection have attracted a lot of famous brands which keep long-time cooperation with us, including Honda, Lascar electronic, and Lennox.

Abery is undoubtedly worthy of coming into your consideration which can help reduce your injection molding time and cost. We show great sincerity to invite you to be our next partner, so contact us now to design your molds today!

 

Top 3 Things You Need to Know About Custom Plastic Injection Molding

Do you ever wonder how the parts with irregular shapes are made and why they fit tightly? The answer turns out custom plastic injection molding, which boosts as the production process gets more precise. It is already applied in many fields, such as households, health machinery, automotive, electronics, and more.

The versatility of the custom plastic injection molding is what makes it so accessible and perfect for all kinds of different applications. And to make the most of it, you need a thorough introduction to custom plastic injection molding, which is where this article will help. The illustration falls on three aspects: importance, application, and production process.

Importance of Plastic Injection Molding

The importance of custom plastic injection molding is now higher than ever. One of the biggest drivers of the growth of this type of molding process is the versatility and the benefits that come with it.

  • Ability to Product Complex Geometry

Experienced plastic injection molding manufacturers can produce complex geometry that has no deviations. You will need advanced equipment and also a team of experts as well. It means that no matter what your needs are, a specific plastic mold can be designed, tested, and made at scale.

  • Durability and Strength

Custom plastic injection molding is more durable to withstand strain and abuse compared to molds from yesteryears. What’s more, the right material of the mold can be chosen from a wide range according to the needs and requirements.

  • Cost Savings

OEMs can reap the benefits of lower costs. That will increase their profit margin or offer their products at a lower price to the end customers. The process can be designed for DFM, which stands for Design for Manufacturability. The OEM and injection molding teams can work together to bring costs down overall.

 

Multiple Applications of Custom Plastic Injection Molds

As we mentioned a couple of times, there are many applications of plastic injection molds. Customer plastic injection molds can be used in industries like:

  • Electronics

The electronic industry can use plastic injection molds to design different sorts of custom electronic goods for the masses. From smartphones, gaming consoles to novelty gadgets, different critical components, and outer casings can be made from custom plastic injection molds.

  • Medical equipment

Since plastic injection molds can be used to manufacture any part and are accurate to within 0.0005 centimeters, they can be used in precise machines like medical equipment. The mold will be carefully designed to cater to the strict specifications that medical equipment often requires.

  • Automotive

The automotive industry is another area where it can be used. Making a durable and cost-effective mold for the mass production of automobile parts not only meets the need of vehicle production but also brings a large convenience to car repair.

With all the information above, the next thing you need to know is how a custom plastic mold is made.

Copyright photo from https://unsplash.com/photos/xoxnfVIE7Qw

Process of Producing a Custom Plastic Mold

There is a step-by-step process to making plastic injection molding parts. And as with most things, it first starts with the design.

  1. Mold design

The mold design process is crucial——Here is where you hash out all the ideas and talk about the different needs for your project. A poor design can ruin your custom plastic injection molding project. And it will also cost more compared to a well-designed DFM design.

  1. Mold manufacture

After the design process, it is time to manufacture the mold, where the expertise of a molding supplier usually shows. There are mainly five steps to produce a mold:

  • CNC machining: In this procedure, the digital milling machine uses a rotating cylindrical tool to cut workpieces accurately, versatilely, and fast to get the desired shapes.
  • EDM machining: EDM machining stands for electro-discharge machining or spark-machining. In this process, a particular shape is obtained by using electrical discharges. This process is also called wire cutting.
  • Lathe Machining: Lathe machining is a precise machining procedure. It can perform operations like changing the surface roughness, weak resistance, visual properties, and chamfer the mold’s features.
  • Mold Fitting: This is one of the most critical processes of custom plastic injection molding. It requires expertise where mold pieces are put together to form a perfect shape or mold.
  • Mold Polishing: This technique helps increase the smoothness of the mold and makes the products easier to demold. That can be done by horning which is usually conducted by whetstone, sandpaper, polishing paste, and wool wheel.
  1. Mold Trials

The last stage in the custom plastic injection molding process is mold trials. You need to make sure that the mold you designed and manufactured works perfectly and as intended.

Without any trials, you might overlook critical and non-apparent design or manufacturing mistakes, which can be very costly down the line.

At Abery, we can design, produce, and examine products to provide the most suitable and cost-effective custom plastic injection molding for you.

 

Conclusion

With state-of-the-art machines and expertise, we at Abery, a professional plastic mold maker, provide tailored services for clients with various requirements. We offer not merely professional products but attentive service and fast delivery. So don’t hesitate to enjoy the custom injection molding service by contacting us! We are eagerly waiting to hear from you.