Injection moulding is a great way to form thermoplastics into a range of shapes. These can be anything from a simple washer to a complicated electrical housing to a wheelie bin or car bumper. Add to this flexibility, potential materials stretching from soft elastomerics to metal replacement polymers and the scope begins to become apparent.
We are all surrounded by injection moulded parts in every facet of our lives, from light switches to the electric kettles we use to the keys on our keyboards. The one thing all these items have in common is that they are produced in high numbers, frequently hundreds of thousands upwards.
And this is why moulding is so perfect, with cycle times measured in seconds, part costs tend to be measured in pence allowing for the product pricing that we all take for granted.
So huge flexibility, large range of materials and cheap parts, great, sorted.
Well not quite....
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