Tag: Plastic Injection Mold

Employment Inside the Plastic Mold Industry

Posted on January 9, 2017 by - Blog

Employment Inside the Plastic Mold Industry

There are always a range of different kinds of employees in the plastic industry, with each participating in a similarly important role in the change of plastic in to the parts and products that are desired. The three principal positions are: machine setters, machine operators, and tenders.

The Role of the Machine Setter, Machine Operator, and Tender

Machine setters, machine operator, and sensitive have the duty of establishing and maintaining the machines that convert plastic ingredients, such as pellets, natural powder, and syrup, inot products such as vehicle parts, toys, and tubes. Although a number of methods can be employed to improve the clear plastic into a good product, treatment molding is the most used method.

A typical injection molding machine has about 25 different handles, all can be adjusted. The machine setter is in charge of establishing these machines before they are being used to ensure all adjustments are where they have to be. The setter is usually in charge of mending any problems the machinery may have.

Following the machine has been setup by the machine setter, the device operator displays the gauges. They’re in charge of making any changes which may be essential to maintain quality, such as changing the inputs, the rates of speed, and the pressures. Following the product being created and cooled within the injection-molding machine, the tender cleans the merchandise and puts it into its product packaging.

Work Environment

Generally, those working within the plastic molding industry like a clean, well-ventilated, and well lit working environment. The working job does, however, require standing a lot of the day and include average to heavy lifting also. Furthermore, the machinery could be very dangerous and, therefore, strict safety rules must be honored.

Nearly all staff in the plastic material molding industry must wear earplugs and safe glasses to safeguard themselves from the noisy sounds created by the machines and from soaring pieces of plastic. Modern machines, however, are enclosed. This decreases the employee’s contact with noise and dust particles. Regardless of the modern equipment, some staff in the plastic molding industry also must wear face masks or special self-contained respiration apparati if the plastic they use emits dangerous fumes.

Most employees in the plastic material molding industry work 40 hour weeks. During cycles of increased creation, overtime is common also. Most plastics shops work several shifts.

Education

Generally, there are no special educational requirements for a person to be used as a plastics machine setter, machine operator, or tender. Most employees on the market learn face to face. This is accomplished by having the trainee observe and assist experienced employees usually. Formal training programs, however, are also sometimes used to teach new employees. Generally, the tender is the entry-level position, accompanied by the operator, and the setter then. Ultimately, the employee will become in charge of all aspects of the machine.

Earnings

The money earned by a worker within the plastic molding industry is dependent largely on how big is the company, the individuals experience, and whether or not the company is unionized. Based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics, however, the median hourly salary in May 2004 for model makers was $21.28. Rolling machine providers and tenders acquired $14.33 each hour, while heat tending operators and tenders attained $14.26, and multiple machine setters, providers, and tenders acquired $14.06 Molding setters, providers, and tenders attained $11.63 throughout that same timeframe.

6 Simple Machines Modern Making Can’t Live Without

Posted on January 2, 2017 by - Blog

6 Simple Machines Modern Making Can’t Live Without

Modern manufacturing has come quite a distance. It now uses CNC machining for milling and turning, and lasers for 3D printing. However the most elementary machine types, as defined by Archimedes more than 2000 years back, are still found in today’s production shop if you look all over the place. A few of these simple machines haven’t any moving parts but will be the foundation for all your complex machines that came after.


wooden wedge

The Wedge

This shape is familiar to any child who’s ever before played with a couple of toy wood blocks. The wedge is amazing in its flexibility, because it’s part of four different but related machine types, combined with the inclined plane, screw and lever.

The wedge is actually a triangle, with both long attributes assembly at a razor-sharp viewpoint we call the border. This edge pushes against an object, and the opposing pressure is dissipated along the true face allowing the wedge to minimize.Where is a wedge within a machine shop? Just about everywhere. Every chopping tool is a wedge of some sort, wherever an angled face complies with the workpiece to shave off organic material. Cutlery, scissors, axes, data, drills – even the fine abrasive allergens on milling rocks and sandpaper – they are all types of wedges.


various tools such as pliers and clamps

The Lever

A wedge can become a pivot point, called a fulcrum, as the lever is any bar or rod that pivots at the fulcrum. When one end of the bar moves in one direction, the corresponding opposite end of the bar moves in the other direction. What’s the goal of that?

If both ends are a similar length, there is absolutely no mechanical advantage, but it can help move the location where in fact the strong make is applied. If the length is increased by you of the bar at the input end, you multiply the force applied at the contrary end, which is very convenient indeed. Levers are located on every pair of pliers, scissors, sketch pubs, and clamps for possessing parts set up, among a lot more examples.


Wood Axe

The Inclined Plane

A different type of wedge or triangle, this time around with one 90 degree angle assisting to form basics. The potent pressure applied moves up the inclined face, distributing area of the load and part horizontally. Splitting the load up this real way makes it more manageable to slowly but surely move a heavy weight a great distance.

Inclined planes with stepped notches cut into them are ideal for holding clamps, commonly used on CNC machines. You also find them on loading ramps of course, where wheeled trolleys move heavy loads into and out of the shop.


Series of Gears

The Axle and Wheel

It had been a red letter day for the people when someone thought this out. We all really know what axles and wheels are, but the important things to keep in mind here from an executive perspective is that fundamental machine exchanges linear action into rotational action, and vice versa. And it proficiently does so very, with little frictional damage.

The applications are endless. Every content spinning and turning procedure over a mill, lathe or grinder – CNC or manual – depends on perfection bearings that transfer lots with amazing accuracy and repeatability.


Pulley

The Pulley

A kind of axle and steering wheel, the pulley transmits the powerful pressure of lots while redirecting that power, and divides the weight being transferred through every pulley in a string. Minimizing the potent make this way requires that the strain be migrated a larger distance, an acceptable bargain.

Pulleys are being used in mechanical and electrical winches, to hoist very heavy tools and mold bases into and out of plastic injection and pressure die casting machines, or to off-load raw materials in a warehouse.


Screw with nuts around it

The Screw

A combination of the wheel and axle and the inclined plane, screws help to transmit force and motion both rotationally and linearly at the same time.

As we all know, screws have threaded shafts, and these threads interface with an opposing force to either redirect it or hold it in place over a large surface area.

So, screws are used in all kinds of fasteners, to drive plastic into injection molding machines, to move vice jaws in and out, to calibrate inspection equipment and a million other places. One less obvious place is with the ball lead screw. This wondrous invention lets a linear actuator move smoothly – and very quickly – along a threaded rod with great accuracy and repeatability, making CNC machines as reliable as they are.


And we rely on these basic machine types every day to make parts for rapid prototypes, industrial and consumer products every day. Interested in how we can make them work for you? Contact us today for a free quotation!

Plastic Injection Molding for Automobiles

Posted on December 26, 2016 by - Blog

Plastic Injection Molding for Automobiles

Plastic injection mold makers have developed technologies for producing quality parts over the years. With so many thing that are made from plastic nowadays, it’s hard to believe there was a time it didn’t exits. Plastic injection molding is used a wide variety of things. Everything from children’s toys to medical equipment and household items are made using plastic injection molding techniques. What many people don’t realize is just how much plastic injection molding has developed.

Plastic Injection Molding in the Automotive Industry

In the automotive industry, plastic injection molds are used to make a surprising amount of vehicle parts. The interior of most cars are filled with plastic. The dashboard, inside door panels, ashtrays, buttons and even the carpets and bumpers are all made through plastic injection molding processes. But even when you take a look under the engine cap, you’ll see a good deal of plastic molded parts.

In recent years the use of plastic has become especially popular in the automobile industry. And this shift from using metal components to plastic is about more than just saving on production costs.

Car manufacturers constantly strive to design vehicles that are lightweight. These lightweight vehicles have been proven to be environmentally friendlier because of their lower fuel consumption. It’s been estimated that every 10% reduction in vehicle weight can lead to a 5-7% increase in fuel efficiency.

In order to make vehicles more efficient, the automotive industry is trying to revolutionize the way plastics are used in cars, aiming to make as many car parts as possible from durable, lightweight plastics. Even though an average modern car consists 50% of plastic, the plastic molded parts only account for roughly 10% of its weight, which shows how for the automotive industry has already come in using plastic improve car performance.

But the use of plastics in cars also has other benefits. By using durable plastics, car manufacturers can also avoid common problems associated with using metal, like metal fatigue and rust. The fact that plastic is lightweight, highly affordable and sometimes even more durable than metal makes it the perfect choice auto manufacturers.

The use of plastics has helped car manufacturers design and produce cars that are safer, cheaper and more eco-friendly. The best part is that these newer, more fuel efficient cars are both cheaper to buy and drive when compared to their older counterparts. Back in the day when cars still largely consisted of metal, it wasn’t as common for an average middle class family to have their own transportation.

Automotive Mold Design and Manufacturing

When it comes to molding car parts, molders need the best possible plastic injection molds to assure every part will perform well. Good molders already know how to mix polymers for maximum durability while producing parts, but there’s an essential step to producing quality parts that can’t be overlooked.

If you’re a molder, producing automobile parts your clients will be satisfied with begins with the molds you use. A good mold is one of the key things you need to run a successful plastic injection molding company. Your mold making company should be your trusted business partner who will guide you through the design, manufacturing and maintenance process every step of the way.

Keeping your molds properly maintained is necessary if you want to consistently mold durable parts for automobiles. Without proper plastic injection mold maintenance, your parts will eventually develop faulty spots and become structurally weak.

American Plastic Injection Molds for the Automotive Industry

Injection molds are expensive pieces of equipment. The mold making process requires precision engineering and manufacturing standards to create molds with tight tolerance that will serve your business for years to come. A good mold shouldn’t be a finicky piece of equipment that sporadically breaks down. After all, you can’t afford to regularly have an unscheduled halt in production of parts simply because your mold won’t function as it should.

Many plastic injection molders make the mistake of working with foreign companies that can produce molds for much cheaper. But when it comes to buying plastic injection molds, you really do get what you pay for.

If you buy a mold at a fraction of the price you’d pay in America, it’s not just because you’re buying from a country with a weaker currency. A large part of the the discount you think you’re getting is because workers producing the molds aren’t equally skilled. Companies that cater to a cheaper market aren’t set on giving you the best worth for your money in the long-term. They’re simply looking to reduce your immediate expenses, even if it ends up costing you more in maintenance and repairs in the long-run.

While the initial cost of buying a local, American-made mold might seem like a large amount to pay upfront, it’s an investment that can make or break your company. Buying a good mold from a company that will help you keep it properly maintained according to a maintenance schedule you can plan in advance (as opposed to a mold that breaks down when you need it most) will help you run your company in a way that’s within your control. A reliable mold can help you stay on top of part production and streamline your processes for maximum results.

Learn more about the automotive plasic industry!
Check out our local McMinnville office.

How Products are Made: Toy Model Kit

Posted on December 2, 2016 by - Blog

How Products are Made: Toy Model Kit

It’s the time of year to start thinking about what kind of toys are you going to get for the young loved ones in your life. Toy models come in many varieties and are made with injection molding!

Model kits are made in approximately five skill levels. Snap-together models provide all the pieces with tiny tabs that fit in specially shaped holes. The plastic pieces are made in the same colors as the original; and virtually no tools, adhesives, paint, or other equipment are needed to build them. The plastic parts simply snap together in a sequence depicted on an instruction sheet; these models are an excellent introduction to the kinds of pieces in a model kit and prepare a novice builder for the next step.
Click here to learn how these toys came to be and the process it takes to make them.

How Products are Made: Acrylic Plastic

Posted on November 30, 2016 by - Blog

How Products are Made: Acrylic Plastic

As a plastic injection molding company, Plastics are very important to us here at Quality Mold Shop. Here we have an article overviewing where acrylic plastics come from and what they are used for.

Like all plastics, acrylic plastics are polymers. The word polymer comes from the Greek words poly, meaning many, and meros, meaning a part. A polymer, therefore, is a material made up of many molecules, or parts, linked together like a chain. Polymers may have hundreds, or even thousands, of molecules linked together.
Click here to read the full article

How to Pick a Plastic Injection Molding Company

Posted on November 28, 2016 by - Blog

How to Pick a Plastic Injection Molding Company

Plastic injection molding is a booming industry, but picking a mold making company for your business to work with is a key factor if you want to mold high quality parts. You should choose your mold manufacturer carefully. Opting for the cheapest manufacturer can end up costing you more. If a mold manufacturer delivers a mold that doesn’t live up to your expectations, fixing it will significantly hike up its cost. Eventually, a mold you thought would be cheap may end up costing more than even the most expensive mold. The worst part is that it probably won’t ever perform at the same level.

To avoid an injection mold catastrophe, you have to pick the right manufacturer to make your mold. There are a few things to consider when partnering with an injection mold manufacturer.

American-made Molds Are Best

China is known for producing large quantities of molds that are available at reasonably low costs. But there are many reasons why an American-made mold will be best for your business. One of the advantages of choosing an American mold manufacturer is that your mold won’t have to be shipped abroad for maintenance. This not only saves you money on postage, but also means your mold won’t be away for long periods of time whenever it’s being serviced.

The other benefit of American plastic injection molds is that they’re usually of a higher quality. Although a Chinese mold maker could deliver a high quality mold, you never really know what you’re going to get until your mold arrives in America. And when your mold manufacturer is in China, sending your new mold back for repairs could take many weeks.

At Quality Mold Shop, we offer pickup and delivery services for molds weighing 12,000lbs or less, meaning you won’t have to worry about mold transportation.

Precision and Injection Mold Making

Your needs will have a huge influence on the mold manufacturer you choose. If you don’t need precision molds that are accurate to a fraction of a millimeter, then almost any manufacturer will be able to help you. But the more precision you need from your injection mold, the more you should shop around for a good manufacturer.

Ask your manufacturer about their mold making processes and the precision of their molds. For the best results, you should communicate your needs clearly to help the manufacturer understand whether or not they can deliver a mold that’ll suit your requirements.

Remember, you don’t have to go with a mold making company that can deliver precision to a fraction of a millimeter if that’s not what you need. Although this precision could indicate better manufacturing processes are used during production.

Mold Manufacturer Production Scale

Don’t just assume that large scale mold manufacturers are the best. Different injection mold manufacturers target different customers. Often times, really large scale manufacturers prefer to work with larger businesses that place large orders. If that’s the case, your order won’t necessarily be prioritized above larger ones. This could depend from one manufacturer to another, the best manufacturers will prioritize all their customers regardless of how many molds they order.

Aim for a mold manufacturer with a production scale that matches your business. You need one that can keep up, but that doesn’t have to be the largest manufacturer around.

Some people might be concerned that smaller manufacturers aren’t as good, though. But the production scale your mold manufacturer can take on isn’t an indicator of how good the molds will be. Sometimes, companies that make fewer molds can do better quality control and produce very high quality molds. The quality of molds an injection mold making company produces will depend on the expertise of the staff and machining tools, not on their production capacity.

Trustworthiness in the Production Process

You should aim to find out more about the production processes of every mold making company you’re considering to work with. Learn more about how long it takes to make a single mold and what steps every mold goes through before it’s ready for use.

Once you have a proper estimate of how long it takes to make a good mold, you’ll know if your mold isn’t delivered within a reasonable time. In that case, you can ask about what caused the delay. But remember that not all molds are the same. Some molds need much more work before they can be used than others, and if you’re working with a good company, you shouldn’t have to worry much about the production of your mold. It’s better to wait a little longer if you’ll get a higher quality mold.

Furthermore, your mold manufacturer should be trustworthy enough so you don’t have to constantly check in to see if your mold is being made properly. If possible, you should do some research to find out whether or not past customers have been satisfied with the company. You should learn more about how well the molds a company makes perform and whether or not the company will deliver as promised. A good company makes durable molds that perform well.

Experience in Mold Making

Experience is a good indicator of how reliable a plastic injection mold making company will be. At Quality Mold Shop, we have more than 40 years’ experience in producing high quality, precision molds. We also offer services to design molds as well as helping customers with injection mold maintenance plans and repairs.

Our team of experts have designed and produced molds for the automotive, medical and appliance industries. If you need a durable mold and reliable customer support, Quality Mold Shop is the ideal partner for your business to work with.

How Products are made: CNC Machine Tool

Posted on November 25, 2016 by - Blog

How Products are made: CNC Machine Tool

We use CNC Machines a lot here at Quality Mold Shop. Read over this article to see what they are for and how they came to be!

CNC or “computer numerical controlled” machines are sophisticated metalworking tools that can create complicated parts required by modern technology. Growing rapidly with the advances in computers, CNCs can be found performing work as lathes, milling machines, laser cutters, abrasive jet cutters, punch presses, press brakes, and other industrial tools.
Read more here.

How are automotive plastics manufactured?

Posted on November 23, 2016 by - Blog

How are automotive plastics manufactured?

Would you drive a car made out of plastic?Well, there’s a good chance you already do; that is, if you drive at all. That’s because today’s cars are an average of about 300 pounds, or approximately 8 percent, of plastic by weight

Versatile plastics inspire countless innovations that help make life better, healthier and safer every day. For example, plastics make possible bicycle helmets and child safety seats. They’re in the airbags that protect us and the cell phones that connect us. And plastics help keep the foods we eat and serve our families safer and fresher than ever before.
Click here to view the video

How Plastics Work

Posted on November 18, 2016 by - Blog

How Plastics Work

Ever wonder where plastics come from or how they are made? This article covers those things exactly. Find out what goes into making plastic before it can be used to make your part.

They must start with various raw materials that make up the monomers. Ethylene and propylene, for example, come from crude oil, which contains the hydrocarbons that make up the monomers. The hydrocarbon raw materials are obtained from the “cracking process” used in refining oil and natural gas.
Read how plastics are made here.

Is 3D Printing Going to Take over Plastic Injection Molding

Posted on October 31, 2016 by - Blog

Is 3D Printing Going to Take over Plastic Injection Molding

Plastic injection molding has been around for more than a century. Over the years, technology has developed. Many improvements were made throughout the twentieth century that allowed molders to produce more detailed parts of a higher quality. Everything from injection molding machines to the polymers used was changed and, subsequently, parts could be better suited to their final use. A versatility was born that has largely revolutionized the uses for plastic injection molding. But in more recent years, plastic injection molding has no longer been the talk of the town for plastic part manufacturers. A lot of focus has shifted to 3D printing as a viable, affordable and versatile means of manufacturing plastic parts.

What Is 3D Printing?

With 3D printing, it’s now possible to make plastic parts almost completely from scratch. The first part of the process involves designing the part you wish to manufacture using a computer aided design. This design is usually done using 3D modeling software, or can be done using a 3D scanner. Once the 3D design is complete, plastic parts are then produced from computer file with the design. This allows for exactness in the design you make. The part is made by successively applying many thin layers of material until the part is complete. And while 3D printing is definitely a good option in some cases, plastic part manufacturers should be aware of the limitations that 3D printing still has when compared to injection molding.

Advantage Of 3D Printing

One area where 3D printing has been far superior to injection molding is when manufacturers only need a small quantity of a part. Injection molds are expensive tools, but with 3D printing, a special printer doesn’t have to be made every time a part is needed. Depending on the part that’s being produced, the point at which plastic injection molding and 3D printing breaks even will vary. Generally though, it’s safe to say that 3D printing will always be cheaper if 250-300 parts are required. The problem is that the cost per part of 3D printing will remain reasonably static, regardless of how many parts are required, while injection molding proves to be a good long-term investment. With plastic injection molding, one mold can produce more than a thousand parts. The initial investments to buy a mold will be costly, but as the mold keeps producing parts throughout its lifetime, the price per part can drop considerably. Some parts can even be manufactured for less than $2 each. If you would like to get an idea of the cheapest option in your case, there’s a quoting engines available online that are able to give you a rough estimate of where costs will break even.

Injection Molding Is Still Superior

While injection molding has only emerged in the last few centuries, the concept of molding is ancient. That’s why it might come as a surprise that a technological concept that’s so old can still be the best option in modern times. But don’t underestimate the technological advancement of the plastic injection molding industry. The concept of molding might be ancient, but the technology used to produce molds is far from primitive. Modern molds can accurately produce parts down to a fraction of a millimeter if necessary. Specialists meticulously polish molds to create smooth surfaces. Because of this, molded parts still have a smoother appearance than 3D printed ones. The other benefit of plastic injection molding is that manufacturers will have a wider range of materials to choose from. 3D printing is still developing to allow for more choice in materials. In the future there will be more materials that can effectively be used for 3D printing, but as things are now, plastic injection molding is still by far more versatile in this regard.

When to Choose 3D Printing

It’s clear that plastic injection molding is better when large quantities of a part will be made and when manufacturers need a part that will be of a higher quality. Despite this, there are still cases when 3D printing can be a good option. The technology is still developing and could become more practical for mass production in the future. Right now 3D printing is a good option if it’s the cheaper way to produce a part. Sometimes having a plastic injection mold made is unpractical, as manufacturers only want a small quantity of a certain part. However, 3D printing won’t be able to produce any part a manufacturer might wish to make. What’s clear is that 3D printing won’t be taking over injection molding in the near future. Molds still have produced more parts that are of a higher quality in less time. As mentioned, cost per part breaks even with 3D printing at only 200-350 parts, making injection molding the obvious choice for large scale industrial manufacturers. 3D printing is an exciting development in plastic part manufacturing, but it’s still got a long way to go before it can realistically compare to injection molding when manufacturing large quantities. Injection molding is still the best option in most cases. Currently 3D printing still proves not threat to the plastic injection molding industry. Without a doubt, medium to large scale manufacturers will still choose injection molding over 3D printing. The tighter tolerance and lower production cost makes it the clear choice.