Plastic Injection Mold Making Process

Plastic Injection Mold Making has been around for nearly 100 years, but with the rapid changes in technology, the process has continued to change and evolve. Regardless of the numerous changes, or the method used, the process follows a similar flow.

  1. The plastic mold makers review the specifications and requirements to determine the best mold for the final product. The designers then begin working on a design that will meet the specifications and client’s requests.
  2. The plastic injection mold maker reviews the specifications and determines the best material for the mold. There are various plastics that can be used, for example some of which can handle much higher temperatures than others.
  3. The plastic mold makers, designers, and clients review the designs and find ways to improve or change.
  4. The injection mold maker and designer consider other areas that require review, such as product structure, mold structure, venting and cooling system. The mold itself isn’t the only element that has to be ready by the beginning of production.
  5. Once approved, the plastic injection mold maker and designer evaluate the designs and begin working on the mold.

The plastic injection mold making process then branches off onto different paths based on if a prototype will be used or not. This is usually determined early in the process based on the timeline and needs of the client. If a prototype is used, the material used in the first run is usually less expensive than the final product material because the prototype mold is made to be redesigned and modified based on the findings of the first few products made by the prototype.

Plastic mold makers begin analyzing the final product once it is done to determine if the mold can make a product that meets the specifications. Prototypes are adjusted and reworked at this point if the finished product does not meet the client’s needs. Complete molds are usually just verified as a lot more analysis went into the design before the plastic injection mold making began.

Topics: Injection Mold Technology