Metal Injection Molding

The company not only runs the plastic parts on custom automotive plastic injection molding machines, they manufacture the tooling for these operations as well, and are able to provide automotive connector molding for many of their clients. This allows the company to provide very competitive pricing on large plastic parts manufactured metal in China for distribution anywhere in the world. The company is capable of producing custom automotive plastic injection molding products in all types of engineering grade resins requiring close-tolerance specifications with superior quality and aesthetics. They carry various CAD software programs to ensure we can assist you using most of today's programs.

About 2 years ago I purchased a tool set. It came with a wonderful set of tools, but a really low end, thin and hollow plastic injection molding case that belies the namesake and tradition. Needless to say, the case finally gave up the ghost this past week. I began shopping for a replacement tool box for the old set that has since grown to over 200 pieces. Wanting some level of organization that is needed on the trail while off roading, the plastic tool box intrigued me due to its thick plastic construction and it's similarity to a larger tool chest with extendable drawers. Its size and depth allowed me to place it in the same spot as where I held the old plastic injection molding case in my truck.

Purchasing the box, some assorted socket rails, and some additional clips for the socket rails, I took the box home with me to see how well it would stand up as a replacement. The box is quite simple in construction. It's a plastic injection molding case made of a very thick plastic. The case consists of a flip open lid (with two latches that are padlock compatible) covering a deep top storage area, and three drawers that are very similar to the large rolling tool chests that many professionals and advanced amateur home mechanics have in their garages. When you flip the lid open, the lid will immediately release the latching mechanism for the three drawers. Unfortunately, the lid does not contain any hinges or tethering that prevent it from flopping open and hitting itself on the back of the tool box. This was my only gripe involving the tool box.

The 2-shot injection molding process creates the first plastic component, and the material molded round it, using a single mold and a 2-shot injection molding machine. 2-shot machines have two-barrels (one for each material) and they have the ability to rotate the mold. The machine injects the first shot material into cavities on one side of the mold, rotates the mold 180 degrees, and then injects the second shot material onto the first shot. The first and second shots occur at the same time. When the mold opens, it ejects the completed parts from the second shot cavities and it rotates the mold to position the first shot for the second shot. This is accomplished in a machine running in an automatic cycle. Because the 2-shot injection injection molding process is fast and highly repeatable, the shrinkage of the first shot is very consistent and two materials can be molded together with virtually no flash. 2-shot molding is the process of choice when molded-in graphics or other fine details are required. The elimination of the shrinkage variable allows 2-shot molding to produce details impossible to achieve with over-mold injection molding.

For homeowners who do not need a specific design recreated or reproduced, pre-made products are generally a far more cost-effective way to take advantage of plastic injection molding technology. Many companies offer a wide range of pre-made products made from plastic injection molding and chances are, you already own many of these products. One of the most common uses of the procedure for home building and design products is in making trim, ceiling medallions, crown moldings and similar decorative products. These products are often more durable, lightweight, and easier to install than wood, plaster, or other more traditional materials, yet can be stained or painted to have the same classic look. This is but one of the many possibilities for the versatile technology of plastic injections molding.