Injection molding is a manufacturing process that’s highly popular with organizations that want to produce parts in large volumes. It is generally used in rapid prototyping, and it is invested in when parts need to be manufactured by the thousands or millions in succession, all bearing the same dimensions.
The molds are typically made of metal and are hollow forms into which molten plastic is injected to make a desired product. Usually, these molds are made from stainless steel, and they have holes cut out in the middle, also known as mold cavities, that are in the shape of the product to be made. The number of mold cavities will vary based on the quantity of individual pieces and components needed during the production cycle.
Understanding the Three Categories of Plastic Injection Molding
Plastic injection molding can be classified into three main categories: (1) single-cavity injection, (2) multi-cavity injection and (3) family injection molding.
Single-Cavity Injection Molding – Single-cavity injection molds are singularly hollow and are used to produce a single piece at a time. This is a cost-effective, highly efficient method for producing parts in a low volume order, or parts that are complex or oversized. Single-cavity injection molding option gives production teams an advantage in that they can focus more attention to each individual piece to make sure there aren’t any flaws such as unfilled portions of the mold, air bubbles, or other types of errors. Finally, this option is not as expensive as a multi-cavity injection mold making the same piece.
Multi-Cavity Injection Molds – Multi-cavity injection molds boast numerous identical hollows. They give manufacturers the advantage of being able to inject molten plastic into all hollows simultaneously to create multiple pieces at once. Therefore, multi-cavity plastic injection molding offers short lead times, increases costs for large volume productions, improved product efficiency, and cuts back on delays.
Family Injection Molds – There are some similarities between family injection molding and multi-cavity plastic injection molding. But rather than having numerous identical hollows, every hollow possesses a different shape. This enables manufacturers to use these molds to create prototypes or even different products that can either be sold as solitary items or sold together in a variety pack. Keep in mind that this method is ideal for producing different pieces made from the same material, but the hollows must be arranged and sized without error. If the family mold is not balanced correctly, the molten plastic won’t be evenly injected and as a result flaws can occur.
When Should Companies Look for Custom Plastic Injection Molding Partners?
Of course, there are several standard injection molds on the market, however, there isn’t a perfect model for every unique project. Companies generally require custom plastic injection molding when products are required with the following:
High Precision Requirements – When it comes to suiting production demands, custom molds are designed down to every fine detail with high precision.
Exacting Standards – When it comes to highly regulated markets like the medical industry or aerospace, custom molds are made according to the client’s exact specifications.
Complex Designs – With custom molds one is not limited to producing standard designs. Rather, they can be tailored to fulfill any component’s size or shape meaning they can create highly complex and unique parts.
What Factors Go into a Successful Plastic Injection Molding Company?
As soon as your team has determined that plastic injection molding is the right manufacturing process, you will need to find the right partner. Laszeray is known for offering the best plastic injection molding services to a wide range of industries, and they can accommodate any project. When looking for the best plastic injection molding services, it is critical to look for the following factors:
- Do they have modern manufacturing equipment?
- What are their design and engineering capabilities?
- Do they use high-quality molding materials?
- Are they committed to the highest standards?
- Do they have the capacities for tight tolerances?
When booking consultations with several plastic injection molding companies, be sure to cover the above points with them to ensure you are truly getting the best plastic injection molding company capable of helping your organization.
Call Laszeray: The Best Plastic Injection Molding Company
Laszeray has the reputation for being the best plastic injection molding company because all our capabilities are achievable under one roof, and we have the best team in the industry. Capable of handling any project, in any industry, of any size, we can cover rapid prototyping, to create large volumes of complex products. Call Laszeray today and tell us all about your project and learn how we can help you get your product to market quickly, with flawless precision, and all while staying under budget.