Top 10 Plastic Injection Molding Questions

Plastic injection molding is the most popular process for manufacturing plastic parts. This process involves molten material which is injected into a mold to create a product. Our in-house molders provide both the design and manufacturing of these products. 

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1. What determines the cost of plastic molding?
   The cost of injection molding is determined by a number of factors such as; the number of cavities, the mold itself, complexity of parts, etc. The actual mold itself is usually the most expensive upfront cost. Additionally, the fewer number of cavities will lower your upfront cost and vice versa. We&#;re dedicated to providing customers with quality service at a lower cost
2. What sized businesses do you serve?
   When researching molding manufacturing companies it&#;s important to keep in mind your volume requirements and make sure they match that of the company you work with. The Toolroom is equipped to handle volume from small to large businesses. No matter the size of your project, we can help
3. What certifications should I look for when choosing a molder?
   Certifications are a great way to determine which molder is right for you. They show which businesses are at the top of the industry. At the Toolroom we are dedicated to providing the best services to our customers and this includes having the proper qualifications. When choosing a manufacturer, it&#;s important to research their current certifications to ensure you are getting quality manufacturing.
4. Should I buy my parts in the US or overseas?
   While working with a manufacturer overseas or even moving your business overseas will help save on up-front costs, working with a local manufacturer has numerous benefits. Choosing a local manufacturer is a great way to ensure open lines of communication during the course of your project. Choosing a manufacturer in the United States and more importantly, a local manufacturer has great long term effects in terms of cost and project turn-around time.
5. How long does it take to build a mold?
   Creating a plastic injection mold can take anywhere from 5-12 weeks. The complexity of each project will determine the turn-around time.
6. Can I get a mold warranty?
   Many mold manufacturers offer limited Lifetime Warranty for their molds. This ensures that if your project should need fixing, it can be done at no charge.
7. What type of material or resin is needed?
   Picking the right materials for your project, can a stressful task as there are hundreds of different products to choose from. Below are the 5 most common resins that can be used for injection molding:
   • ABS
   • Celcon
   • Polypropylene
   • HIPS
   • LDPE
8. What types of custom-built plastic injection molds are out there?
   There are several different plastic injection moldings available in the marketplace to fit your needs. The Toolroom has several custom-built moldings to choose from:
   • Unscrewing Molds
   • Two Shot Molds
   • Prototype Molds
   • Multi-Cavity Molds
   • Insert Molds
   • Stack Molds
9. What does the molding process look like?
   Here at The Toolroom we have a creative system in place to help guide you through every step of the injection molding process.
   • Send us the 3D CAD model along with all the mold requirements for your product
   • We will provide you with a quote
   • You will receive one-two reviews of your project design
   • Once we have your approval, the manufacturing process will start
   • After the molding process is complete, we will test run your product
10. What do I do if I already have an injection mold?
    If you already have an injection mold made, you will need to find a company that is also able to produce plastic parts. Luckily, The Toolroom is equipped with experts to help you develop any plastic product you made need.

How often do you source a plastic injection molder?  If you are like most companies and purchasing managers, probably not very often. Typically, once you have selected an injection molder to work with, you are likely to stay with them for a long time as long as they keep producing quality plastic parts. 

There are several scenarios in which the need for an injection molder may arise:

-Your company has designed a new product that requires injection molding

-Your engineers have re-designed an existing injection molded part

-Your current injection molder is no longer meeting your quality requirements

-Your business wants to move its manufacturing from overseas to the U.S.

When you are in the market again, you want to ensure you have selected the best plastic injection molder for the job. Our resource guide can help.

We call it &#;10 Must-Ask Questions for Choosing an Injection Molder.&#;

We have condensed the top 10 issues into questions and then provided answers to each.  By reviewing these questions before sourcing an injection molder, you are more likely to get the information you need to make a proper assessment. 

Here is a sampling of the questions you will find inside the guide: 

1. How many injection molding presses does the company have and what are the machine's capabilities?

Answer:  Molders with a greater number of presses will be able to accommodate more projects during a given period.  However, they must also have a wide range of machine sizes.  Injection mold machines are measured in terms of pressure or tonnage.  Plastic injection machines can run from 40 to tons.  The large machines can accommodate larger molds.  However, not all parts run well on large machines.  Your molder will determine the best machine to use based on the number and size of the part, as well as the material. 

Yihua Mould are exported all over the world and different industries with quality first. Our belief is to provide our customers with more and better high value-added products. Let's create a better future together.

* At the Rodon Group, we have 118 injection molding presses with capacities from fractional to 107 ounces, and clamping force from 46 to 720 tons.

2. Does the injection molder have an experienced in-house design and tool building team?

Answer:  Using an injection molder that has the in-house capabilities to steer your project through from concept to completion has several advantages. 

-In the early stages of development, refinements in design are often made.  Working with a turnkey manufacturer, these changes can be made, reviewed, and refined within a short time frame. 

-Design engineers are trained to build the best possible design for the project.  They have the expertise required to build molds that will produce the highest quantity and quality parts.

-The plastic injection molder should utilize the latest in precision EDM machine tool equipment.

* At The Rodon Group, we take every step of this process very seriously, working closely with each client from concept to completion to achieve top quality at the best price.

3. Does the injection molder guarantee the molds for the life of the project? 

Answer:  This is an important question to ask.  When you work with a manufacturing team who has designed and built the mold, they should offer guarantees.  If slight adjustments need to be made to the mold or repairs, the molder should stand behind their work.

* At The Rodon Group, we fabricate the best tooling in the industry, and our tool warranty reinforces our claim. As long as we are running a tool that we have built, there will never be any repair or maintenance charges.

Narrowing the list

With several thousand plastic injection molding companies in the United States, selecting the right molder for your project can be a daunting and time-consuming task.  We hope this guide will help you compare and contrast competing injection molding companies and determine the best manufacturer for your next project. If we can assist with your next high volume project, please contact us. 

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