There's more to injection molding (IM) than producing plastic Barbie Doll shoes and Action Man weapons. Not only plastic, but any material that can be somehow liquefied and injected into a mold can be subjected to the IM process. This applies to polymers, sugar in its many forms, glass, metals and other materials. IM is used to make everything from precision machined airplane parts to jelly alligators.
Mobile phone covers, toy bricks, plastic forks, styrofoam cups, metal scissors and the fans that go inside computers to keep them from overheating while you are playing Candy Crusher, all of these items are fashioned using IM technology. The process, which was first used in the mid-19th century, is amazingly versatile and yields gizmos and widgets for everything from kitchen gadgets to the International Space Station.
One use for IM with which we are all familiar is in the making of military miniatures and collectible toy soldiers. In many cases, the pieces are intricately designed and crafted to the specifications of a particular war. Enthusiasts are able to create exact replicas of battles. Prices vary with the rank of the soldier and the complexity of the design. For example, the Duke of Wellington sitting on horseback can fetch a price of around $200, while lower-ranking troops cost a fraction of that price.
Electric toy train enthusiasts are avid consumers of IM technology. Where do you think the little toy trees and little toy engineers and signalmen come from? The amount of authenticity and detail that goes into making these items is breath-taking. Built to last, these pieces are often manufactured from molded metal so they are sufficiently robust to be passed down from generation to generation.
The starting material, whether polymer, metal or thermoplastic, is pulverized into a fine dust and, in the case of metal, mixed with what is called a binder to produce what is called feedstock. The feedstock is fed through a hopper and passed through a heater while being fed through a tube by a linear actuator. The material is melted into a liquid and then fed into a mold and then cooled.
The vast range of objects that can be produced using IM is astounding. The injecting and molding machines are themselves built from parts that are the product of IM technology.
A surprising number of feeder industries are part of the IM process. Computer software programmers, polymer manufactures, the chemical industry that makes binders and other additives and the makers of molding machines all contribute to the art and science of the IM process. One thing that will be fun to watch in the coming years is how the IM industry will develop as the field of three-dimensional printing becomes more common.
Mobile phone covers, toy bricks, plastic forks, styrofoam cups, metal scissors and the fans that go inside computers to keep them from overheating while you are playing Candy Crusher, all of these items are fashioned using IM technology. The process, which was first used in the mid-19th century, is amazingly versatile and yields gizmos and widgets for everything from kitchen gadgets to the International Space Station.
One use for IM with which we are all familiar is in the making of military miniatures and collectible toy soldiers. In many cases, the pieces are intricately designed and crafted to the specifications of a particular war. Enthusiasts are able to create exact replicas of battles. Prices vary with the rank of the soldier and the complexity of the design. For example, the Duke of Wellington sitting on horseback can fetch a price of around $200, while lower-ranking troops cost a fraction of that price.
Electric toy train enthusiasts are avid consumers of IM technology. Where do you think the little toy trees and little toy engineers and signalmen come from? The amount of authenticity and detail that goes into making these items is breath-taking. Built to last, these pieces are often manufactured from molded metal so they are sufficiently robust to be passed down from generation to generation.
The starting material, whether polymer, metal or thermoplastic, is pulverized into a fine dust and, in the case of metal, mixed with what is called a binder to produce what is called feedstock. The feedstock is fed through a hopper and passed through a heater while being fed through a tube by a linear actuator. The material is melted into a liquid and then fed into a mold and then cooled.
The vast range of objects that can be produced using IM is astounding. The injecting and molding machines are themselves built from parts that are the product of IM technology.
A surprising number of feeder industries are part of the IM process. Computer software programmers, polymer manufactures, the chemical industry that makes binders and other additives and the makers of molding machines all contribute to the art and science of the IM process. One thing that will be fun to watch in the coming years is how the IM industry will develop as the field of three-dimensional printing becomes more common.
About the Author:
Genevive B. Mata has taught plastics molding techniques for over 15 years. He specializes in injection molding and thermoforming. If you are interested in learning more about plastic injection molding services then he recommends you visit his friends at PTM: Custom Plastics Injection Molding Company.
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