The plastic mold maker makes it possible to manufacture parts of complex shape in a single operation, very quickly. It is the ideal solution for quality production, in very large series and suitable for all sectors of activity, even the most specialized. Moreover, this industrialization is prepared from the design of the parts and requires real expertise. In addition, here are our tips for successfully industrializing your plastic parts.
Plastic injection is a flexible and economical solution allowing the production of medium or large series. To succeed in industrialization, it is preferable to study the design and the necessary materials beforehand. Clearly, you will need to have precise and realistic specifications. Furthermore, you have to have a good understanding of the project and be able to make the right decision.
It is at this stage that plastic mold maker will think about style, ergonomics and the search for aesthetic forms. 3D CAD modeling is an essential tool here.
Functional study
Functional analysis is at the heart of the preliminary study, because it conditions the choice of materials and the design of the part. This is a prerequisite for carrying out mechanical studies.
The study phase is completed by rapid prototyping, allowing having a realistic rendering of the project within 48 hours.
There is currently an extremely wide range of thermoplastic polymers available, each with specific properties: mechanical resistance, color, resistance to UV radiation, impact resistance, cost of the material, etc. Furthermore, it is therefore the use of the room that will largely determine this choice.
Design well for successful industrialization
A successful industrialization is above all a well-studied part, because everything prepares from the design stage.
Like any industrial process, thermoplastic injection has its own specific requirements and constraints. Thus, some basic rules plastic mold maker must respect:
• Sharp angles we need to avoid, because they concentrate the stresses and often generate deformations on cooling;
• The thickness of the plastic parts must be as uniform as possible. Each variation in thickness can cause too much shrinkage and aesthetic defects (shrinkage);
• Add drafts to facilitate the release of parts;
• Rib your parts to add rigidity without increasing thicknesses.
Modern CAD software has modules dedicated to plastic injection simulation. The simulation makes it possible to predict certain defects on the plastic parts before the manufacture of the mold launches.
Weld lines, air inclusions, warping or even shrinkage, all these defects are thus predictable and avoidable for plastic mold maker. In addition, digital simulation software is able to analyze the mechanical resistance of parts (RDM) and study the flow of plastic (rheology).
Molds adapted to your needs
Thermoplastic injection requires the manufacture of molds which are the centerpiece of the process. Moreover, each mold is a custom-made tool, which corresponds to your production needs.
The mold is an investment that comes over the life of the product. The quality of the steels that comes according to the life cycle of the product, and also the number of borrowings compared to the quantity produces.
To successfully industrialize your plastic parts, you will first need to find the right industrial partner.
Business experience
The production of quality parts, that is to say with beautiful surfaces and which does not deform during injection. It requires years of practice for plastic mold maker. Consequently, the industrial partner with a great deal of business experience will be the one who will know how to design flawless molds.
Above all, you can rely on its expertise with your eyes closed and let yourself be guided for optimized design and production. Finally, a partner who carries out tests in real conditions after the mold develops is also a guarantee of confidence in order to avoid any unpleasant surprises when production is launched.
CAD and digital simulation are not the only cutting-edge technologies available to plastic injection professionals. Before starting the manufacture of a production mold, it is advisable to go through a rapid prototyping step in order to validate the conformity of the product with respect to the specifications.
Rapid prototyping, also called “3D prints”, is now one of the technologies that are revolutionizing the world of industrial manufacturing on a daily basis. Therefore, for the manufacture of your parts, choose an experienced and reliable agile plastic mold maker. This will guarantee you a quality production and a stable process.
The key notion to remember is that of “partner”, committed to the project and who has a 360 ° vision of it. If the injectors obviously master the injection, the difference lies in the commitment to follow the overall project in the direction of the customer.
A commitment that will make it possible to find solutions to respond to each problem, to find the right partners, always with a view to being as close as possible to the customer's wishes.
These are the challenges to which mold makers must now respond. A nice challenge you will tell us, especially as plastic injection-molded parts are more and more complex. It is to produce, and the allocated development times are shortening.
Antinomic? Not necessarily. Discover how rheology associated with computer-aided design / manufacturing (CAD / CAM) enables plastic mold maker. It is to gain efficiency and productivity while striving for excellence.
First and foremost, it is important to understand the mechanical behavior of the material used. It is in order to define the characteristics of the mold, design recommendations, and the manufacturing method.
How does the material flow in the tooling cavities under plastic mold maker? What are the relationships between its viscosity, plasticity and elasticity? How does it deform under the influence of stresses, such as pressure for example?
Conclusion
As you will have understood, it is a question here of resorting to rheology. As a reminder, this science studies the deformations and flow of materials. It is to model their behavior, according to very precise factors and physical data. It is essential to the plastics industry.
