Injection molding is one of the most common manufacturing processes in the plastics industry. Essentially, the molten plastic is injected into the mold cavity to make it harden on cooling, then the mold is opened and the plastic piece is removed.
Injection molding is mainly used for mass production because of its high upfront costs in design, testing, and processing. Of course, the more parts produced, the unit price will drop sharply, which is the reason and advantage of using injection molding for mass production.
Why do 3D printing?
The injection mold itself is a metal block with cavities, which determine the shape of the finished product. Traditionally, molds are designed and produced by computer numerical control (CNC) milling machines and are very expensive.
Since the mold is usually made of metal such as steel and aluminum, it is difficult to change once it is produced. Therefore, 3D printed injection molds provide a cheap and flexible alternative.
Let's take a look at how to actually print 3D injection molds, the pros and cons, the new development of 3D printing injection molds, and the final printing skills.
Note: Although many people can make 3D printed injection molds, in actual use, more energy and equipment may be required. Of course, professional 3D printing services can also be used.
