One of the most popular ways to mold plastic is through injection molding, but is it the most really the most efficient process for your mold? Find out if it’s right for you by reading the advantages and disadvantages of injection molding.
Advantages of Injection Molding
There are several advantages when it comes to using injection molding over other plastic molding processes. It allows plastic molding companies to be able to produce more complex products in different shapes and designs that otherwise would be difficult or impossible. It would also make the cost of the product considerably higher. With the injection molding process, molding companies are able to mass produce parts because of the high production output while having a low labor cost that is easy to repeat.
Injection molding allows for workload to be cut down because the product is essentially finished once the initial mold is designed. It also helps to save resources for plastic molding companies because the company will be able to recycle material or any unused molding plastic or scraps. Those items can be melted down and reground for possible future use; therefore the company has very little wasted material. Another advantage to injection molding is that the productivity may increase because it saves the company money and time in during mass production.
Disadvantages of Injection Molding
Even though there are a lot of advantages to injection molding, there are some minor disadvantages as well. The main disadvantage to injection molding is the cost of the machines. A used injection molding machine can cost anywhere between $5000 and $50,000. For a newer machine, it could range from $375,000 to $400,000. That isn’t really a problem for a well-established company, however, for those start up companies, this could be a set back.
Another disadvantage to injection molding is that the designs will have to be created before any process can begin. This could put production behind schedule or cost more money for the company. There are also some limitations to what types of designs can be made with this process. The process could be a possible set back for certain companies who don’t have a set rule to follow. Lastly, there are some limitations as to what may be designed when using the injection molding process, which could put the finished product behind schedule.
These are just a few advantages and disadvantages for plastic injection molding. To learn more about our process, contact us today.