The world of manufacturing continues to evolve with plastics being used for making everything from material handling equipment to automotive parts. Manufacturers prefer to use plastic injection molding to come up with vital components and guarantee optimal part performance.
Every industry has different needs. That is why plastic molding comes in various kinds each of which provides unique benefits and features. The specifications and requirements of an application will determine the kind of molding process that suits best for a certain part. Below are the different types of plastic molding:
Injection Molding
This is a versatile molding process that can be used for manufacturing a variety of parts that range in size and shape. This process includes injecting the melted plastic into a steel mold, which has cavities for forming the parts. Injection molding makes customization possible as different plastic resins and additives can be used. This way, designers and engineers can make unique parts for meeting highly complex or unique application needs.
Rotational Molding
This type of molding makes use of high temperatures and rotational movement for coating a mold’s inside to form the desired shape of a part. It suits best for making big, hollow, one-piece containers like tanks. This process results in less waste which can usually be reused. This makes it an eco-friendly and economical manufacturing process. Also, rotomolding can produce parts with consistent wall thickness, great strength, and improved design flexibility.
Extrusion Molding
In this process, the melted plastic material is extruded directly into the die. What makes this process unique is that the die’s shape determines the shape of the final product. With other injection molding styles, it is the mold that determines such shape.
This type of molding process is ideal for making parts with continuous length and uniform cross-sections. It is carried out using an extrusion molding machine which comes with a screw for feeding the plastic resin into the feeder. This process is perfect for long-hollowed applications like pipes, tubes, and straws. Also, these parts can be made in various shapes like U-sections, T-sections, I-sections, and others.
Compression Molding
This plastic molding process is cost-effective and highly efficient. Its versatility lets manufacturers make parts that vary in intricacy, length, and thickness. This process usually uses advanced composites for the plastic material. As a result, it yields stronger, more durable parts. For instance, it can employ high-strength materials like fiberglass, thermosetting resins, and reinforced plastics.
