Rutland Plastics Q&A
Do you need advice on injection moulding? Do you want to know if injection moulding is suitable for your project? Rutland Plastics has more than 50 years experience in injection moulding offering full support from design to delivery.
Q) What are the advantages of using plastic moulded components?
A) The two main advantages are weight and cost reduction. The latter is not only due to lower material costs and cheaper part production, but also the fact that by using injection moulding it is possible to combine more than one part into a single moulded component so reducing or eliminating assembly costs.
Plastics also provide for a wider variety of shapes and colours.
Q) But aren't plastics less strong than other materials, such as metal?
A) Not necessarily. Material selection and good product design can produce a moulded part that will meet your requirements. Plus, plastics can offer a longer life and do not corrode.
Q) What do I need to consider when specifying a part for injection moulding?
A) Your end use requirements for the part. These fall into functional, aesthetic and manufacturing related. Are any special strength characteristics required? When considering loading, for example, it is vital to be clear on the type of load, the rate at which the load may be applied, duration and frequency. The same approach can be applied to environmental factors such as exposure to very high or low temperatures, chemicals and UV light.
It is also necessary to specify your dimensional requirements, particularly critical dimensions and flatness, all with realistic tolerances. It may be that there are legal requirements as well, such as food contact or flammability, and not forgetting life expectancy.
Q) Isn't injection moulding just for high volume parts?
A) This is a common belief due to the fact that injection mould tools are relatively expensive. However, as alternative methods of manufacture such as machining or fabrication can result in expensive part prices, injection moulding can often be justified on hundreds of parts rather than tens of thousands. This is where support and advice from Rutland Plastics can help in designing components that not only minimise part cost but also mould tool cost. This free, no obligation advice can include a quote to enable you to assess the viability of a particular project.
