Injection molding process

Injection molding process

Injection molding process is one of the most important primary molding processes in plastics processing. It is also often referred to as injection molding or injection molding. With this process, complicated, directly usable molded parts can be produced economically as mass-produced items.
Well-known manufacturers of injection molding machines include Husky, Krauss Maffei, Arburg, Engel and Chen Hsong.

The injection molding process

In the injection molding process, plastic (thermosets, thermoplastics, thermoplastic elastomers and elastomers) is converted into a flowable state (plasticized) in an injection molding machine in the so-called injection unit and then injected into the injection molding tool . The surface structure and shape of the finished part are determined by the cavity of the tool.
In most cases, a thermoplastic is processed, which is poured into a filling funnel in the form of granules.
The following graphic shows the four main process steps of the injection molding process.

Produce molded parts

During processing, molded parts can be produced automatically with high reproducibility. The surface of the component can be chosen almost freely. Grains for touch-friendly areas, engravings and patterns as well as smooth surfaces, for example for optical applications, are possible. Post-processing is only necessary to a small extent or sometimes not at all.
The injection molding process can be used to produce a wide variety of molded parts, from the smallest gears to large containers. Parts with weights from 0.0001 g to 100 kg are possible.
One of the most well-known components that is manufactured by injection molding is the LEGO building block. But many other toys and products are also produced using the process.

Application of the injection molding process

The process is very economical for large quantities. Due to the high costs of the tools for injection molding, the production only pays off for a few thousand molded parts. In return, the tool can be used to process up to several million molded parts.
The different injection molding processes

• In-mold process
• Spring river imprints
• Back injection technology
• Powder Injection Molding (PIM)
• Cascade injection molding
• Injection stamping
• Negative pressure spraying
• Extrusion injection molding
• Injection bubbles
• Natural fiber injection molding
• Gas internal pressure injection molding (GID)
• Internal pressure injection molding (WID)
• Fusion core injection molding
• Gas negative pressure process (GHD)
• Multi-component injection molding
• Thermoplastic injection molding
• Elastomer injection molding
• Thermoplastic foam casting (TSG)
• Thermoset injection molding