Four Manufacturing Mistakes That Are Often Made In Injection Molding
ShareInjection molding is used in a wide variety of manufacturing applications to produce many different types of product. However, the mistakes that are frequently made when using the practice that tend to compromise its effectiveness are the same across a wide range of applications.
The following are the four most common mistakes seen in injection molding that you need to avoid if you're looking to optimize your manufacturing operation:
Contamination of the molds
Injection molds can easily become contaminated by substances like rust, oil, and carbon. They can even be contaminated by gas if it gets into them before the are used to create molds.
When molds are contaminated, they do not create the right form when they are used, and this leads to manufacturing defects that can easily compromise a company's reputation for reliability.
Cleaning injection molds regularly is vitally important for avoiding contamination and thereby avoiding productivity and quality assurance issues that result if contamination gets out of hand.
The development of flow lines
When molding plastics are used to manufacture a product, flow lines are frequently created if the injection is occurring at a speed that's too fast for the capabilities of the available equipment. Flow lines can also form if production is taking place at a temperature that's too high or low.
If you notice flow line issues in your injection molding project, try slowing down the speed or optimizing temperature controls on site to remedy the problem.
Defects in the mold
One very common mold defect is the appearance of flash at the mold seal-off points. Fixing this problem typically involves reducing pressure on the equipment during the injection phase and cleaning seal-off points regularly.
Mold quality issues
Too many manufacturers try to save money by purchasing a low-quality mold tool. However, it's important to make sure that the mold tool offers the needed level of quality so that the resulting product is presentable and usable.
At the same time, remember that paying more for a mold tool won't ensure quality. It's important to put adequate research into the expected product life and extent of the expected product run for any injection mold that is invested in for a manufacturing project.
Remember that you might be able to financially optimize your manufacturing needs if you only need an injection mold for a short-term run and you can pay less for a lower quality injection mold while still fulfilling your needs. Contact local professionals, such as those from Accurate Products Inc., for further assistance.