There's more to injection molding (IM) than producing plastic Barbie Doll shoes and Action Man weapons. Not only plastic, but any material that can be somehow liquefied and injected into a mold can be subjected to the IM process. This applies to polymers, sugar in its many forms, glass, metals and other materials. IM is used to make everything from precision machined airplane parts to jelly alligators.
The IM process has even been used to manufacture shoes - both casual flip-flops and designer heels. Both a science and an art, IM is incredibly versatile and is used to produce everything from dustpans and laundry baskets to precision-machined parts for robots and aircraft engines.
One application for the art is in the manufacture of collectible toy soldiers and military miniatures. If there was a war, chances are there are miniature toy soldiers for some enthusiast to recreate it. A horseback-mounted Duke of Wellington can set a collector back in the realm of $200. Intricately detailed and meticulously painted, lesser soldiers can be acquired for a much more reasonable price. Of course, when you are purchasing hundreds of the brave soldiers, it adds up pretty fast.
Electric toy train enthusiasts are avid consumers of IM technology. Where do you think the little toy trees and little toy engineers and signalmen come from? The amount of authenticity and detail that goes into making these items is breath-taking. Built to last, these pieces are often manufactured from molded metal so they are sufficiently robust to be passed down from generation to generation.
The starting material, whether polymer, metal or thermoplastic, is pulverized into a fine dust and, in the case of metal, mixed with what is called a binder to produce what is called feedstock. The feedstock is fed through a hopper and passed through a heater while being fed through a tube by a linear actuator. The material is melted into a liquid and then fed into a mold and then cooled.
The range of objects that can be manufactured using this technology is amazing. There are a lot of parts that one would not intuitively think were made this way. Even the parts for the machines that do the injecting and molding have injected and molded parts inside them.
Many different industries feed into the IM process. Computer software, polymers, binders and machinery are all necessary to fuel the process. It will, however, be fun to see how IM technology evolves in response to the up and coming 3D printing process.
The IM process has even been used to manufacture shoes - both casual flip-flops and designer heels. Both a science and an art, IM is incredibly versatile and is used to produce everything from dustpans and laundry baskets to precision-machined parts for robots and aircraft engines.
One application for the art is in the manufacture of collectible toy soldiers and military miniatures. If there was a war, chances are there are miniature toy soldiers for some enthusiast to recreate it. A horseback-mounted Duke of Wellington can set a collector back in the realm of $200. Intricately detailed and meticulously painted, lesser soldiers can be acquired for a much more reasonable price. Of course, when you are purchasing hundreds of the brave soldiers, it adds up pretty fast.
Electric toy train enthusiasts are avid consumers of IM technology. Where do you think the little toy trees and little toy engineers and signalmen come from? The amount of authenticity and detail that goes into making these items is breath-taking. Built to last, these pieces are often manufactured from molded metal so they are sufficiently robust to be passed down from generation to generation.
The starting material, whether polymer, metal or thermoplastic, is pulverized into a fine dust and, in the case of metal, mixed with what is called a binder to produce what is called feedstock. The feedstock is fed through a hopper and passed through a heater while being fed through a tube by a linear actuator. The material is melted into a liquid and then fed into a mold and then cooled.
The range of objects that can be manufactured using this technology is amazing. There are a lot of parts that one would not intuitively think were made this way. Even the parts for the machines that do the injecting and molding have injected and molded parts inside them.
Many different industries feed into the IM process. Computer software, polymers, binders and machinery are all necessary to fuel the process. It will, however, be fun to see how IM technology evolves in response to the up and coming 3D printing process.
About the Author:
Henry A. Parker has taught plastics molding techniques for over 15 years. He specializes in injection molding and thermoforming. If you are interested in learning more about plastic injection molding services then he recommends you visit his friends at PTM: Custom Plastics Injection Molding Company.
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