Injection Molding

In injection molding, material is fed through a hopper into a barrel where a reciprocating screw mixes and melts the material then injects it into a mold.

ColorForm From KraussMaffei Brings Key Competencies to One System
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ColorForm From KraussMaffei Brings Key Competencies to One System

ColorForm systems produce finished injection-molded parts with a flood-coating, scratch and UV resistant finish.  

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ESSENTIAL READING

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Mold Maintenance

AIM Institute Continues to Grow Plastics Education and Training on 10th Anniversary

The AIM institute was created in response to the rising need for skilled injection molding professionals, providing individuals with a fundamental understanding of plastic rheology and plastic flow through a mold.

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Bulk, Solid and Melt Density: How to Calculate These Values and Why They Matter — Part 2 of 2

Understanding and calculating solid density and melt density will help molders with everything from material and machine selection to determining piece part costs.

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Process Monitoring or Production Monitoring — Why Not Both?

Molders looking to both monitor an injection molding process effectively and manage production can definitely do both with tools available today, but the question is how best to tackle these twin challenges.

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Optimizing Pack & Hold Times for Hot-Runner & Valve-Gated Molds

Using scientific procedures will help you put an end to all that time-consuming trial and error. Part 1 of 2.

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A Systematic Approach to Process Development

The path to a no-baby-sitting injection molding process is paved with data and can be found by following certain steps.

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Tooling

Three Key Decisions for an Optimal Ejection System

When determining the best ejection option for a tool, molders must consider the ejector’s surface area, location and style.

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Plastics Size Reduction

Latest Injection Molding News And Updates

Advanced Valve Gate Solution for Multicavity Line Saves Time, Optimizes Performance

Oerlikon HRSflow highlights an advancement for its Multiflow HRS multicavity line, the EYEgate HRS, a valve gate hot runner system solution.  

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Electronics

Low-Volume Dryer for Engineering Resins

Target markets are low-volume, high-precision specialty applications in automotive as well as in electronics, connectors and technical molding.  

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Automation

LSR Cold Runner Deploys Servo-Actuated Needles for Smart Operation

Elmet says the patent-pending SMARTshot I cold runner measurement and control concept uses servo-actuated nozzle needles to enable automatic startup without additional sensors.

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Penn State Behrend to Host 2025 Innovation and Emerging Plastics Technologies Conference

Two-day event will explore the latest advancements in plastics engineering, manufacturing and digital transformation.

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Injection Molding Conference Returns to Penn State Behrend

Taking place June 11-12, the conference features more than 30 presentations and 13 focused tutorials, as well as networking opportunities.

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Engel Establishes Spanish Subsidiary

Engel has established a subsidiary in Spain via the acquisition of its long-standing Barcelona-based partner: Roegele S.A.

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Featured Posts

sustainability

Skipping the Pellet for Efficient Recycling in Molded Engineering Plastics Applications

AGS Technology leverages deep experience in molding with recycled engineering materials for automotive and heavy equipment parts.

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Molds & Tooling

MPM’s Second Act: Keeping Injection Molding, Moldmaking in the Midwest

Larry Austin’s 35 years at a highly successful injection molding company inform much of what he does and doesn’t want in his second act in plastics owning an injection molding company.

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When Injection Molding Simulation Can Be a Great Troubleshooting Tool

Injection molding simulation can serve as a powerful tool not just for design but also for ongoing production optimization.

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Digital Manufacturing: Two Medical Molders Embrace Industry 4.0

‘Digitalization’ and ‘connectivity’ are loaded terms—shorthand for a whole new way of doing 大象传媒. It can’t be accomplished in one go. But two Midwest molders in the sensitive medical field are already feeling the benefits of their initial steps in that direction.

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best practices

For This Molder, Less Paper + More Data = Higher Productivity

At Tessy Plastics, going paperless means more than idle printers and fewer orders for three-ring binders.

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Paperless ‘Smart Factory’ Based on Automated Production Monitoring

Tier 1 automotive molder’s home-built production-monitoring and ERP systems, designed for “the little guy,” boost its efficiency rating and profits.

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FAQ: Injection Molding

Plastic injection molding is a cyclical manufacturing process that allows for cost-efficient production of a mass number of identical parts made from either thermoplastic or thermoset materials.

Cushion values in injection molding ultimately are an indication of a part’s quality, especially its dimensions. A consistent cushion will create consistent part dimensions.

It is important to determine which type of bubble your part has, and what the root cause might be. Determining bubble type will allow you to pinpoint the source and determine your next course of action to eliminate the problem.

Most molders are still relying on “general-purpose” screw designs that go back 30 years. With all of the technical improvements that have been made on machines over that time, nothing has been done to improve melt uniformity. We still use “general-purpose” (GP) screws, which well-known screw designer Bob Dray wisely has called “no-purpose” screws. That is they do not melt plastic uniformly. Processing with a uniformly melted plastic would seem like a high priority, but it has seen little if any attention.