Injection molding is used for myriads of applications. The injection molding process enables you to produce millions and thousands of parts or products within the shortest time possible.
Examples of items you can mass produce using the injection molding machine include chairs, musical instruments (and components), small tables, storage containers, bottle tops, toys, combs, mechanical parts, and automotive parts and components.
In the manufacturing industry, injection molding is the most popular method for manufacturing plastic parts in large quantities.
Is Injection Molding Environmentally Friendly?
Injection molding doesn’t threaten the environment; it is considered environmentally friendly because the machinery is efficient, and the materials used to produce items (such as thermosetting polymers) can withstand extreme temperatures and conditions.
Although, even with injection molding, there are some waste materials, however, it cannot be compared to how much waste other manufacturing processes generate. And these waste materials can affect the environment depending on how long they last. However, this can be controlled if the waste products are recycled or disposed of properly.
Recently, there have been some advancements and improvements in modern injection molding machinery, meaning that injection molding doesn’t pose half the threat it used to as compared to ten years ago.
Is Injection Molding Cheap?
The number of cavities in a mold can determine molding costs. If you don’t need many cavities in the mold to produce your product, then the manufacturing costs for creating an injection mold are greatly minimized.
Also, the intricacy and complexity of your product, items, or parts can increase the cost of building an injection mold. Other determining factors include surface finishing, tolerance, threads, detailing, and the number of undercuts. Adding these details to your injection molding machine means more cost since they require more tooling.
The most effective and affordable injection molding is rubber injection molding; it generates a high volume of long-lasting products. Also, its unique features of vulcanization processes with accurate temperature controls can reduce costs by minimizing waste material.
How much does Injection molding Cost?
You can arrive at the exact cost of injection molding by using the formulas below:
Mold Price = material costs + design + process and profit + VAT + tryout fees + packing and shipping costs.
Of these costs, materials, and parts make up about 15-30% of the total, and process and profit make up around 30-50%. Putting all these factors into consideration, a small single cavity injection mold cost around $1,000 and $5,000. Bigger or more complex molds cost around $80,000 or even higher. However, on average, a standard mold costs about $12,000.
Although the mold itself may be expensive, however, the injection molding process and the costs of production have relatively low prices.
How Can I Reduce Mold Costs?
The injection molding process can be pretty expensive, however with the following ways listed below, you can reduce mold costs:
- Eliminate undercuts
- Remove unnecessary features
- Use a core cavity approach
- Reduce cosmetic finishes
- Design parts that self-mate
- Modify and re-use existing molds
- Monitor DFM analysis
- Use a multi-cavity or family type of mold
- Consider your part sizes
