The Process of Rapid Injection Molding

As the name implies rapid injection molding is a very rapid form of molding. The molds produced are made of high grade aluminum and a few to thousand parts can be made with it in a short span of time. It is a way to bridge the time gap between prototype and full production. If you need a working injection mold quickly then rapid injection molding can be the answer.

Injection molding is a manufacturing technique for making parts from both thermoplastic and thermosetting plastic materials. Heated, fluid plastic is injected at high pressure into a mold to get the desired shape. Injection molding is widely used for manufacturing a variety of parts, from the smallest component to entire body panels of cars. The process of injection molding can be described in four simple steps which include Plasticizing, Injection, Chilling, and Ejection. Each of these steps is different from the other and the right procedure is required for the successful completion of the total process.

1. Plasticizing:

It involves the conversion of the polymer material from its normal hard granular form at room temperatures into the liquid which is necessary for injection at its correct melting temperature.

2. Injection:

This is the stage during which the melted liquid is introduced into a mold to completely fill the cavity or cavities.

3. Chilling:

It is the act of removing heat from the melt to convert it from the liquid form to its original rigid state.

4. Ejection:

The ejection phase is the last phase where the removal of the cooled, molded part from the mold cavity is done.

The use of these basic steps in sequence or as a cycle is the process of rapid injection molding done to obtain or manufacture parts. Cycle time usually ranges from 10 to 100 seconds and are controlled by the cooling time of the melted plastic. Surprisingly, the cost is quite reasonable, due to the highly developed automation process of rapid injection molding.