Communications and Purchasing of Injection Molds

Purchasing Injection Molds

Purchasing Injection MoldsWhether you are purchasing an injection mold from the tool shop down the street or half the way across the world, communications is one of the most important ingredient in a successful program.

Injection Molds Website Portal

Total Solution Plastic as invested in and developed the most sophisticated Web Portal available. No more lost files or email, no more wondering where your mold is in the process, just log on to our secure site (SSL) and view in real-time. You can access your project from any computer anywhere in the word. Check out www.totalsolutionplastic.com.

Using Scientific Injection Molding to Ensure Reliable and Repeatable Product

Plastic Injection MoldingIn a previous article blog, Injection Molding Process Validation Using Scientific Molding, the standard (baseline) process was established. Coupling the established standard (baseline) process, scientific molding principles and monitoring of the four plastic variables during production runs, helps to Ensure Reliable and Repeatable Product.

Injection Molding Process

For this article I am using references to the human body, because like the human body an Injection Molding Process is complex, and also has a lot of variables and interactions that effect the way it runs. To simplify the complexity of both we can externally monitor and observe key variables.

Standard procedure for a doctors visit starts with a check of your vitals (four plastic variables) temperature, heart rate, blood pressure and weight. Observation of how you look and sound, a quick look at your chart (baseline standard process) and a diagnosis is made. This was accomplished with external data of the internal process from common inexpensive instruments when in properly trained and licensed hands can Ensure a Reliable and Repeatable diagnosis.

At Crescent we pride ourselves in having the Scientific Injection Molding Knowledge and Training Certifications that help us to Ensure Reliable and Repeatable Product.

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Guidelines for Designing Plastic Injection Molded Components

Injection Molded Plastic componentPlastic injection molding offers many benefits.  In large runs, molding is much cheaper than machining the parts individually, and the manufacturing speed is much faster.  However, when designing a part that will be molded, there are some special considerations that need to be applied.

Because plastic molded parts are injected into mold cavities (voids) and over cores (standing steel), they require draft in order to release from the mold.  Draft is the amount of taper on the vertical walls of the plastic part.  Without draft, a part will either not eject from the mold, or sustain damage during ejection.  Typically, draft angles between 1° and 2° are required, but can vary depending on part restrictions and specifications.

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The Value of Automated/CNC Quality Inspection Equipment in Injection Molding

Injection Molding - Quality Inspection EquipmentAre you looking for superior custom injection molded plastic components? Do you work in an industry, such as medical devices, pharmaceutical, safety, defense or aerospace that has little room for error or faulty components? Crescent Industries uses automated/CNC quality inspection equipment to dramatically reduce the incidence of inferior components making it through the QC check points and thus ensure that you, our client, is getting the best custom injection molding product possible.

To make sure that our employees are able to deliver the quality that our customers expect, Crescent Industries uses automated equipment for measurements and data acquisition. The Crescent team is committed to listening to and understanding our customers’ needs and consistently shipping injection molding products that meet these agreed upon specifications.  [Read more…]

Objectives of IQ, OQ and PQ in Process Validation for Injection Molding

custom injection molding components<h2> Injection Molding Process</h2>

The process of injection molding must consistently create products that adhere to high quality standards. The performance of parts produced must meet customer specifications.

Only through diligently inspecting and validating every aspect of the injection molding process, as well as the final products, can such standards be ensured. To avoid mistakes, substandard products, and inconsistencies, process validation occurs before production gets underway. After a detailed and successful injection molding process is defined, which produces parts that consistently perform according to specific parameters, production can commence.

IQ, OQ and PQ play critical roles in the injection molding process validation procedure.

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Equipment and Technology to Manufacture Injection Molds

CNC MachiningInjection molding is an advanced manufacturing discipline requiring quality precision injection molds to produce quality precision injection molded components.  In the past, mold building utilized skill and trial error to manufacture new injection molds, today to achieve the ultimate success companies use technology, computerized equipment and skilled labor to manufacture new precision injection molds.

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Reasons Why Automation is Vital for Injection Molding Today

Automation in Injection MoldingAutomation in injection molding projects minimizes hands on involvement, resulting in improved consistency, repeatability, product quality and ultimately the best value for the customer.

Robotics can be used throughout the injection molding process during the insert molding or over molding process, helping to assist in secondary operations and quality inspections.  Using automation processes can eliminate waste, produce consistent quality components and at a faster cycle time.

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Terms Used in the Injection Molding and Mold Building Industry

Injection Mold & Plastic ComponentBelow is a list of frequently used terms in the injection molding and mold building industry to help when discussing your injection molding project.

EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining) which cuts metal from a work piece with a series of electrical sparks that precisely shapes the material into simple or complex geometrics. 

High Speed Machining is cutting metal by using recent speed technology that allows machining centers to do more work.

Swiss Screw Machining utilizes a lathe type metalworking machine using multiple spindles in the manufacturing of small precision parts; these are CNC controlled for one time setup with very minimal operator assistance.

Mold Simulation is the ability to simulate the mold fill process that accounts for multiple injection molding variables.  The data produced provides a basis for setting the actual process variables for use in the injection molding process.

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Ideation Throughout Medical Product Development

The concept of generating ideas within a group environment
is nothing new to product development. Alex Osborn popularized the process and
contributed a set of highly influential rules in 1953. Since then, a wide range
of techniques have been developed to help product development teams develop
novel ideas effectively and efficiently. Unfortunately, few design
professionals are aware of these methods, and even fewer understand the
elements of creativity to help make ideation sessions more productive.

Sustainable Product Design: One Powerful Principle

A few months back, MIT Sloan, in collaboration with Boston
Consulting Group (BCG), recently published the verbosely titled Sustainability
& Innovation Global Executive Study and Research Project
. It’s a
well-researched study—which is to say that it’s a long read—and definitely
worth reading.