4 top design considerations for the injection molding process

When you are preparing designs for the injection molding process, there are many factors to be taken into consideration. As a leading manufacturer of thermoplastic injection molded parts, we have the experience and knowledge of what makes a great design for the production of outstanding products.
As you begin the design process, there are important details to keep in mind. Plastic injection molded parts offer many advantages. The following are the top design considerations for the injection molding process.

1. Draft.This is the first and probably most important item to consider. Draft is what helps eject the part from the mold. Stuck parts, or parts that need to be forced out of the mold, are often damaged or distorted rendering them useless. To facilitate mold release, draft angles must be calculated during the design phase and customized for each part.

2. Wall thickness.When designing a part, minimum wall thickness must be considered. The thinner the wall the less plastic is required. Cycle times will be shorter because parts cool faster. Ideally, parts should be designed with the thinnest walls possible while still maintaining the integrity of the part.Uniformly thick walls offer the best possible outcomes in terms of reducing warping and maintaining quality. When wall thickness varies, filling the mold is more difficult and leads to stresses at boundary areas. If uniform wall thickness is not possible, a gradual taper is the best design option.

3. Wall strength.To strengthen the walls of the part, ribs are a vital consideration. During the design process, the thickness of the ribs must be in proper proportion to the walls. The height of the ribs, their orientation, and incorporating draft angles are aspects that must be taken into consideration when creating part designs.

4.Know your materials.  Material selection is one of the most critical considerations in designing your piece — it factors into many aspects of the process, including shrinkage factor, cooling time, flexibility and more. Different materials can have different minimum and maximum wall thicknesses, for instance, or can require different degrees of draft.

Although we have highlighted the top four items to consider when designing parts for plastic injection molding, there are many, many additional considerations. OK molding has more than 15 years experience in mould design and making. Any questions,please feel free to contact us via info@okmolding.com or visit us at :okmolding.com