Changes and New Techniques in the Processing and Manufacturing Industry

If you are planning on ordering custom plastic parts for your business, you should think about using injection moulding as your manufacturing process. In general, injection moulding is favourable because it can produce parts with complex geometry. The technique involves forcing molten plastic into a preformed mould. Therefore, as long as the mould is correctly made, intricate products can be fabricated. Injection moulding also ensures the formation of strong products through the mixture of different plastics and incorporation of additives. In addition, the process is efficient, widely available and fast. Unfortunately, the costs can be relatively high. If you are concerned about this aspect of your project, you should use these practical guidelines to manage your injection moulding expenses. 

Design for Manufacturing

You should design your custom products for manufacturing. In simple terms, you should create products which can be produced with ease by your fabricator. If you choose a complex design, the manufacturer will need to put in more time and effort into your project. Therefore, the costs of producing your products will rise. Also, you should remember that the moulds are made of metal. So, manufacturing a complicated mould can be expensive. When you complete the draft for your custom product, you should review the design and eliminate superfluous features. For example, significant decorative features should not be included in your design. You should also ensure that the product has a consistent or uniform wall thickness. Different wall thicknesses require special equipment for manufacture.

Choose the Right Material

There are numerous plastic materials that you can choose for your injection moulding project. Therefore, you should evaluate all your viable options and make detailed comparisons before electing the right choice. Ideally, you should assess the performance properties that you require for your completed products. These characteristics can include temperature resistance, chemical stability and mechanical strength. Compare these properties needed with the different plastics and select the most suitable for your needs. You should note that high-performance materials will cost more to purchase. Therefore, you should not choose a polymer which is unnecessarily excellent. 

Build in the Desired Texture

You should think about asking your fabricator to include your desired product texture in the mould design. Often, the costs of injection moulding increase because of secondary finishing processes which are intended to enhance aesthetic appeal. If your mould is etched or moulded, you will have a more uniform look and feel for your parts. In addition, the incorporation of the finish or texture into the mould eliminates the secondary finishing costs.