In order to design plastic parts for injection molding properly, product designers should follow a few basic rules. To clarify, the plastic injection process is very suitable for mass production. In addition, it is a repetitive process that ensures production of hundreds of thousand times the same component. However, when we talk about such high quantity, it is obvious that the component needs to be well designed to reduce mold cycle time and raw material. That is the reason we list up 5 basic design rules for plastic injection.
1. Draft angles.
When designing components for plastic injection molding as well as overmolding, it is best to consider draft angles from the start. More specific, some people tend to put draft angles at the end, but then realize their design has to change drastically, in order to get it producible. In general, we strive to overall draft angles of 2 degrees.
2. Round corners.
Next, it is important to round corners. It does not only make your part look nicer. Rounded corners make the molten plastic flow better, in the mold.
3. Hollow out the part.
Now, it is time to hollow out the part. A basic rule for plastic injection, is to make a strong part, with as little as possible material.
4. Equal wall thickness.
Strive to obtain an equal wall thickness. The thickness, depends on the size and function of the part.
5. Add ribs.
Add ribs to give the part its final strength and stiffness. It is important to make the ribs only half, to three quarters of the thickness, of the adjacent walls. And here again, you must add draft angles to all vertical surfaces, in order to make the part come out of the mold easily.
Now we applied 5 important design rules for plastic injection, our part is perfectly producible. Do you want assistance with designing plastic components? Contact us via [email protected]
At Davantech, we are injection molding and overmolding since 2010. More specific, we fabricate precision molds and of plastic products in China. As you may know, it is still an obvious choice to have your molds made in China. One of the reasons is that the manufacturing supply is very large and efficient. As a result, we offer molds much cheaper than elsewhere in the world.
In addition to the manufacturing, we also design of plastic components. In this way we ensure that what is designed also can be made.