Injection Molding:
The Art of Making Plastic Parts
By Helen Anderson and Jason Atkins
1
History
Stemmed from die-casting
bullets in the Revolutionary War.
First modern injection mold was
for a billiard ball using the
synthetic organic resin celluloid.
2
Injection Mold
hopper
parting line plastic pellets
mold cavity melt
nozzle Major
parts of
the
injection
molding
machine
screw barrel
cold side hot side heating
coils
plates
3
Process
Plastic pellets fill the hopper…
…fall into
the barrel…
…where
heat and
pressure
…which is pushed are
…to form melt in the nozzle… applied…
into the mold.
4
Process It is reground
and placed
back into the
hopper.
After cooling, the mold opens
and the finished part is removed.
The sprue is then removed
from the final part.
5
The diameter of the screw inside the barrel gradually increases to
generate more pressure and heat helping to melt the material.
6
Advantages
Materials Available
Shape Complexity
Cost per Unit
Quality
Quantity
7