<h1>What Exactly is Surface Finish</h1>

Surface finish involves the process of altering a metal&rsquo;s surface, in the form of reshaping, adding or removing. It is often an essential component of the manufacturing process, since it can completely change the look of a product and significantly improve its aesthetic look and feel.

<h2>What is Surface Finish</h2>

So what exactly is surface finish? Surface finish is generally comprised of three parts: surface roughness, surface waviness and the lay. When one takes into consideration all of these parts then we have a complete manufacturing aspect. Surface roughness refers to the measurement of finely spaced surface irregularities. Usually when machinists talk of surface finish they are often referring to this. Waviness on the other hand, is talking about warped or deflated surfaces. Imagine the peaks and valleys of a wave, its unevenness, and you have a good visual impression when one talks about waviness. Often the cause of this is warping from heating or cooling, or machine defects like that of chatter and deflection. Lay refers to the dominant pattern on the surface and its orientation. Lay is produced by the manufacturing process and can take a variety of patterns, such as: parallel, perpendicular, circular, crosshatched, isotropic, radial and multidirectional.

Below is an image to get a better understanding of the three parts of surface finish:

<img alt="Surface Finish Image" src="https://shineyuu-mold.com/assets/images/surface_finish.png" style="height:2384px; width:2384px" />

<h2>Why is Surface Finish Important</h2>

So why then is surface finish important? Surface roughness itself plays an important part in determining how exactly the finished product interacts with its environment, but also when creating hundreds or thousands of the same part it is important to keep and maintain a level of uniformity throughout all of the products. It would be unusual to have multiple pieces of the same product have a wide variety of rough and smoothness, and would make the product seem lower in quality.

Other reasons surface finish is so important include that it is incredibly important for corrosion and chemical resistant effects, eliminate surface defects, improves electrical conductivity, improves strength of the product and reduces friction effects, as well as adhesion of coatings and paints and generally improves its visual appeal.

<h2>Measuring Surface Roughness &amp; Surface Symbols</h2>

In order to measure surface roughness we have to calculate the smoothness of a product surface&rsquo;s profile. This is where we can use a variety of different methods, such as surface roughness charts or using surface finish symbols.

One of the more common machining symbols is that of Ra surface finish. So how do we calculate Ra surface finishes? Ra involves average roughness. This means that we perform a measurement of the average roughness between its highest peaks and the mean line. Although it&rsquo;s sometimes not enough to define surface roughness, and more specific measurements may be used.

Another of the finishing symbols is that of Rmax. Rmax is the measurement of a vertical distance from the highest peak to the lowest valley, and is mostly best used for anomalies like that of burrs and scratches.

Rz is the average maximum height of the profile. It takes the five largest differences between peaks and valleys, using five sampling lengths. The is the chosen method when more accuracy is needed, as it helps to reduce error, Ra being more sensitive to extremes.

You can see how these are calculated below:

<img alt="Ra, Rmax &amp; Rz Image" src="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334575318/figure/fig3/AS:782604693417993@1563598907234/Criteria-for-defining-the-surface-roughness-a-Ra-b-Rz-Rt-according-to-ISO-4287.png" style="height:584px; width:850px" />

<h2>Conclusion</h2>

Getting an accurate surface finish can be challenging during the manufacturing process, which is why you should choose us, Shineyuu, who work with rapid tooling and injection molding to help meet your needs. If you need the best prices and the best understanding of the right surface finish for you, simply drop us a line and our team of experts will help meet your surface finishing needs. We offer full dimensional inspection reports along with a wide variety of different finishing processes, like anodizing, electroplating and much more. So contact us today.

In this post let's learn all about surface finish, why it's important to understand and the best techniques used for it.

In this post let's learn all about surface finish and the best techniques used in understanding it.

manufacturing

surface finish

What Exactly Is Surface Finish

<h1>Thermoplastic Polyurethane 101</h1>

Today we are going to learn all about thermoplastic polyurethane, or TPU for short. We will learn exactly what it is, what are its advantages and disadvantages and include just some of the many products you can find TPU material in across a wide range of industries.

So what is TPU material? TPU is a material that is like a bridge between both plastic and rubber. Why think plastic vs rubber, when you can combine the best elements of the two! It is extremely rubber-like in appearance, possessing similar properties of rubber too. Meaning it is flexible, durable and also smooth to touch. These properties make the material highly versatile for many industries, including consumer goods, coatings and components. Along with this, it is a great choice for those who wish to use injection molding or printing TPU with 3D printing.

But it is fundamentally a thermoplastic, meaning that it is a plastic that can be melted down multiple times and re-used again and again. Unlike a thermoset, which can only be used once. So polyurethane plastic is special, in that it behaves like a rubber material but has the reusability and recyclability of a plastic. There is also high customisability with regards to TPU meaning that it can be as soft as a rubber or as hard as a plastic, depending on the needs of the product built&nbsp;with TPU materials.

What is a TPU? Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) is like a bridge between both plastic and rubber. TPU polymer can be customized to be as hard as one or as soft as the other.

<img alt="TPU Head Image" src="https://media.istockphoto.com/photos/products-from-polyurethane-on-the-exhibition-stand-industry-picture-id1203061893?b=1&amp;k=20&amp;m=1203061893&amp;s=170667a&amp;w=0&amp;h=kzP-O4RwDldVhD20Fev0X4XUgSVeiqkIS2jZcjY_hIc=" style="height:339px; width:509px" />

<h2>Advantages of Thermoplastic Polyurethane</h2>

Polyurethane material has a wide set of advantages, which is why is it so readily chosen as a plastic for many types of components. One of the best advantages of TPU plastic is just how resistant it is. Resistant to water, oxygen, ozone, flame, aging, oil, chemical and solvent. As previously mentioned, because it is also very rubber-like, it also has high elasticity, but also great strength and good tactile properties, making it smooth to touch. It can be sterilized too, making it a good option for food packaging and the medical field. TPU filament is highly transparent but it can be easily coloured too, for extra customizability.

Polyurethane properties make it highly resistant to many variables. Combined with the fact that it can be readily sterilized. This makes material TPU a great choice of plastic in the medical field.

<img alt="TPU Medical Image" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/3845126/pexels-photo-3845126.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=2&amp;h=650&amp;w=940" style="height:1253px; width:1880px" />

<h2>Disadvantages of Thermoplastic Polyurethane</h2>

While it has some great advantages, there are a few drawbacks to this incredible plastic and rubber fabric. Throughout all of the manufacturing process, TPU requires particular manufacturing conditions to be met for it to be produced, making it one of the less readily available manufacturing methods on the market. Some of &nbsp;thermoplastic polyurethanes grades have short life cycles. The cost of the material itself is higher, compared to other materials like that of PVC and clear TPU eventually ends up yellowing and cannot be reversed, so many opt to colour this material.

Is polyurethane rubber? Is polyurethane plastic? It&rsquo;s a thermoplastic. But it has the properties of a rubber. Polyurethane rubber is a great material if you require something that can stretch, feel great, and be extremely resistant in all kinds of conditions. Chances are, when you think of a moldable rubber that hardens, you are thinking of TPU!

<img alt="TPU Third Image" src="https://media.istockphoto.com/photos/engineering-plastics-plastic-material-used-in-manufacturing-industry-picture-id1186872718?b=1&amp;k=20&amp;m=1186872718&amp;s=170667a&amp;w=0&amp;h=T5ijMFCzCanSUuj4dDCts1SNLyEUTIUuiQOUBhtKHus=" style="height:320px; width:538px" />

<h2>Products of Thermoplastic Polyurethane</h2>

Because TPU polycarbonate has a wide range of benefits it can be used across many industries. Let us take a look at just some of the products you can find TPU is used in:

<ul>
	<li>Thermoplastic polyurethane phone case</li>
	<li>TPU screen protector</li>
	<li>TPU film</li>
	<li>TPU laminate</li>
	<li>Castor wheels</li>
	<li>Hoses and tubes</li>
	<li>Power tools</li>
	<li>TPU fabric</li>
	<li>Polyurethane plastic sheet</li>
	<li>Footwear</li>
	<li>Sports equipment</li>
	<li>Automotive parts and drive belts</li>
	<li>TPU studs</li>
	<li>Seals</li>
	<li>Medical tubes and devices</li>
	<li>Food processing tools</li>
</ul>

Hard or soft TPU material can be used in a wide array of applications. From a TPU case to TPU lamination. From TPU rubber outsoles on your sports shoes to TPU coating on your power tools with soft TPU. Chances are if you wonder &ldquo;Can TPU be used in this product&rdquo;, it likely can. 

<img alt="TPU Shoe Image" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/1456706/pexels-photo-1456706.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=2&amp;h=650&amp;w=940" style="height:1253px; width:1880px" />

<h2>Conclusion</h2>

Today we learned all about TPU! We learned how to define polyurethane, as in what does TPU stand for. We looked at polyurethane structure, examining what it can do and some of its main advantages and disadvantages. We also looked at some of the products we can often find TPU used in.

We here at Shineyuu know all about TPU. In fact, we know a lot about all kinds of plastic materials, since we are an injection molding company! &nbsp;If you are thinking about if your next project should include TPU, wish to know more about TPU price, or are not sure which plastic is best to use simply&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">contact us and request a quote</a>, or indeed you can ask us any questions and we will be more than happy to assist you in any way we can!

If you enjoyed the article make sure you take a look at some of our other posts on many other materials and topics, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/learn-about-injection-mold-tooling">Injection Mold Tooling</a>, <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/what-is-thermoplastic-rubber">What is&nbsp;Thermoplastic Rubber</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/picking-polystyrene">Picking Polystyrene</a>&nbsp;for more great information.

Learn all about thermoplastic polyurethane, otherwise known as TPU. Find out its advantages and disadvantages and why you should consider it.

Learn all about TPU and why it could be the next plastic for you.

molding materials

Thermoplastic Polyurethane 101

<h1>Injection Mold Tooling</h1>

In this article&nbsp;we are going to cover a selection of injection mold tooling that we here at Shineyuu use, an injection molding company. The aim is to provide you with a better understanding of how exactly injection mold works and to give you a better understanding of the injection moulding process step by step. We can do this by learning the ins and outs of the tools and machinery at our disposal. Let&rsquo;s take a look at some of the plastic moulding tooling and machinery&nbsp;below:

<h2>The Injection Mold</h2>

First let us start with an injection mold. An injection mold is a custom machined tool which is used during plastic injection molding. Manufacturers then custom build these molds for customers to create their plastic product.

While there are several varieties, the most common variation of an injection molding tool is a two-plate mold. A tool that molds to any shape. As the name implies, this plastic tooling consists of two parts, the injection mold and the ejector mold. The injection mold plate is the entry point where the molten plastic is poured. This entry point is known as the sprue bushing on an injection mold. The melted plastic flows down this sprue, through runners, then on to the cavity, or shape of the mold itself. This shape in the mold is what will ultimately decide how the product will look upon completion, when the plastic hardens. Injection molds can have a single cavity, or can be a multi cavity mold.&nbsp;

An important part of design for injection molding is creating the 2-plate mold. This mold seen below, includes both an injection mold and an ejector mold and is one of the most important tools for molding. This particular mold was produced in our Shineyuu manufacturing plant.

<img alt="Injection Mold Tooling 2 Plate Image" src="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/_next/image?url=%2Fassets%2Fimages%2Fprod_mold2.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=50" style="height:578px; width:884px" />

<h2>The Ejector Mold</h2>

Another important component of mold design is the second plate, the ejector mold. This tooling component is the exit point, where the plastic product is &ndash; as the name implies &ndash; ejected out of the injection mold. When a plastic product is complete the clamping unit slides the ejector mold away from the injection mold tooling. Then, small circular pins called ejector pins push the completed plastic product off the injection mold. When it comes to injection molding tool design, ejector mold walls are usually angled, known as a draft angle. This is because without one the product would have trouble ejecting from the mold. This would cause damage to both the mold and the plastic part. With draft angles, air can rush in and break any vacuum seal.

Plastic produced by injection molding is one of the most highly desired, profitable and useful ways to make products. By using proper tooling, choice mold components and correct injection molding tooling design, you can make any plastic product you can dream of! Below is just some of the design molded plastics we have made right here at Shineyuu.

<img alt="Injection Mold Tooling Plastic Products" src="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/_next/image?url=%2Fassets%2Fimages%2Fmolded_parts13.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=50" style="height:692px; width:922px" />

<h2>Injection Molding Machine</h2>

A key part of the injection mold tooling process is using an injection molding machine. These machines are also known as presses. They consist of a material hopper, an injection ram or a plunger which is screw-like and a heating unit. A molding plate, either single cavity or multi cavity molds are clamped to the molding machine. Then plastic is injected into the mold, via the sprue as mentioned previously. Depending on the tooling plastic used when making these tooling molds, it may require more pressure to fill the mold. This is because some plastic is stiffer than others. This requires a higher clamping force from the injection mold machine, meaning how strong the machine needs to hold the cavity injection molding in place. Check out <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/custom-injection-molding">Custom Injection Molding</a> and <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/injection-mold-design">Injection Mold Design</a> for more information on all things injection molding.

Here we can see an injection moulding tool design done right here at Shineyuu. The used mold for this moulding tool will result in a perfect plastic product!

<img alt="Injection Mold Tooling Design Image" src="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/_next/image?url=%2Fassets%2Fimages%2F3d_model2.png&amp;w=1920&amp;q=80" style="height:703px; width:847px" />

<h2>Conclusion</h2>

Today we learned about some of the tooling molds and machines used during the injection molding process. This includes why exactly we use these injection mold tools, along with a variety of purposes these tooling and molding machines are used for. This is to help you understand injection mould tool design and if injection mold is something you should consider for your next project in the future.

We here at Shineyuu know all about plastic molding tools and plate molding. In fact, we know a lot about all kinds of molding tools, since we are an injection molding company! &nbsp;If you are thinking about if your next project should include a thorough injection mold tooling design, wish to work with a company who knows about mold close up and personal, or are not sure which molding tool is best to use simply&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">contact us and request a quote</a>, or indeed you can ask us any questions and we will be more than happy to assist you in any way we can!

If you enjoyed the article make sure you take a look at some of our other posts on many other materials and topics, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/what-is-thermoplastic-rubber">What is Thermoplastic Rubber</a>, <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/picking-polystyrene">Picking Polystyrene</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/all-about-acrylic">All About Acrylic</a> for more great information.

&nbsp;

This article covers the main injection mold tooling you can expect to see on a regular basis in the world of injection molding!

Take a look at the variety of injection mold tooling you can expect to see.

injection molding

Learn About Injection Mold Tooling

<h1>Thermoplastic Rubber</h1>

In this article we are going to learn everything you need to know about thermoplastic rubber, which is often referred to as TPR for short. We will get a better understanding of what is TPR, what are its strengths and weaknesses. What are the kinds of products you can most often see TPR material used in and what separates it from regular rubber?

TPR is not to be confused with the TPR medical abbreviation meaning temperature, pulse and respiration. Actually TPR stands for thermoplastic rubber. What is rubber material? Rubbers meaning in general, is that rubber is a compound or polymer which is known for both its flow and its elasticity. Basically how runny and stretchy it is, but with the added benefit of being able to recover its original shape after being stretched. General products that come to mind when we think of rubberized polymer products include surgical tubing, windshield wiper blades and of course tires on an automobile.

So what about TPR rubber? What makes it so special? First we must understand what it even is! Regular rubber cannot be melted down once a product has been made. Think of a tire, this cannot be melted down. They have to be used elsewhere, like playground surfacing or as a swing. This type of compound is known as a thermoset. Thermoplastic definition however, is a plastic that can be both melted and re-used multiple times over. While being melted down works great for the environment, the trade-off is that the material may lose performance properties once it reaches certain temperatures. TPR plastic is special then, since it works like a plastic but performs like a rubber.

Is rubber a type of plastic? TPR meaning thermoplastic rubber certainly is! Since it has the properties of rubber, both malleable and stretchy, but can be melted down and re-used again.

<img alt="Thermoplastic Rubber Image" src="https://media.istockphoto.com/photos/plastic-resin-pellets-picture-id183336434?b=1&amp;k=20&amp;m=183336434&amp;s=170667a&amp;w=0&amp;h=IYjLhsgybLu9tmQqPZzJBjzY4SooV3miqYv1paRB2PY=" style="height:338px; width:507px" />

<h2>Advantages of Thermoplastic Rubber</h2>

Since we previously mentioned what is TPR material, we have learned that its primary strengths rest in the fact that it is both a plastic and a rubber, but what does that mean? What kinds of advantages would it give if used in your next project going forward?

Thermoplast rubber comes with a wide range of advantages. &nbsp;Boasting the properties of rubber, it is capable of high flexural fatigue resistance, is fantastic for electrical properties, recyclable, lightweight, with good tear and abrasion resistance. Combined with this is another set of properties from also being a plastic. It yields high impact strength, shows outstanding resistance to weathering and chemicals and has wonderful colourability. &nbsp;

Is rubber plastic? Natural rubber, like latex comes from the rubber tree. But thermoplastic rubber is a thermoplastic compound which is man-made using polymers and is indeed a plastic.

<img alt="Thermoplastic Rubber Polymers Image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1614484691701-709df3fec2ac?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=774&amp;q=80" style="height:581px; width:774px" />

<h2>Disadvantages of Thermoplastic Rubber</h2>

This rubberized plastic does have some disadvantages however. When we examine material TPR, we notice that under constant high temperature exposure it does not do well, typically in the ranges above 250&deg;F (121&deg;C). If high tensile strength is an important factor in your product, it is also a poor choice as many thermoset rubbers would suit better. When immersed in particular petroleum products it has also been found that it does not hold up well.

What are some uses of thermoplastic? Because TPR has a pleasant surface texture with a wonderful feel, thermoplastic uses can be used in a wide range of tactile products, from the soles on our shoes touching our feet, to many handgrips and hinges for our hands.

<img alt="Thermoplastic Rubber Pen Grip Image" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/175045/pexels-photo-175045.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=2&amp;h=650&amp;w=940" style="height:1300px; width:1733px" />

<h2>Products of Thermoplastic Rubber</h2>

Thermoplastic manufacturers create this plastic-rubber powerhouse because it possesses a smooth, comfortable feel. It is usually a great choice for a handle or a grip. It can be utilized in many industries from medical and construction, to fashion and automotive. Some of the products where you can find TPR outside and inside include:

<ul>
	<li>TPR medical instruments</li>
	<li>TPR toys</li>
	<li>Wires and cables</li>
	<li>Power and hand tools</li>
	<li>Pen grips</li>
	<li>Airbag covers</li>
	<li>Shoe soles</li>
	<li>Grips and handles</li>
	<li>Hinges</li>
	<li>Plugs and seals</li>
</ul>

One of the most common products of this plastic rubber is actually found in shoe soles. Ever since the 1960s, this famous rubber resin has been used to produce soles because of its low-costs, easy malleability and light weight. Chances are if you look at your sole you may see the letters TPR, or TPE &ndash; another famous kind of thermoplastic.

<img alt="Thermoplastic Rubber Shoe Sole Image" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/2016145/pexels-photo-2016145.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=2&amp;h=650&amp;w=940" style="height:1253px; width:1880px" />

<h2>Conclusion</h2>

Today we learned all about thermoplastic rubber. What does TPR stand for, what does TPR mean, TPR examples, including extra information like is rubber made of plastic, difference between plastic and rubber and whether this rubber plastic material is something you should consider for your next project in the future.

We here at Shineyuu know all about rubbers and plastics. In fact, we know a lot about all kinds of thermoplastic products and plastics, since we are an injection molding company, including experience with the rubber injection molding process! &nbsp;If you are thinking about if your next project should include rubber injection molding, wish to know TPR material safety, or are not sure which material is best to use simply&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">contact us and request a quote</a>, or indeed you can ask us any questions and we will be more than happy to assist you in any way we can!

If you enjoyed the article make sure you take a look at some of our other posts on many other materials and topics, such as <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/picking-polystyrene">Picking Polystyrene</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/all-about-acrylic">All About Acrylic</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/what-is-nylon">What is Nylon</a>&nbsp;for more great information.

We learn about thermoplastic rubber! What makes it different from regular rubber and what are the best products it can be used it.

The benefits of plastic and rubber all rolled into one!

What is Thermoplastic Rubber

<h1>Polystyrene</h1>

In this article we will take a look at what is polystyrene: Its advantages, disadvantages and the products which you can most often find it in. So what is polystyrene? Polystyrene (sometimes commonly misspelled as poliestire or poly strene) is a versatile plastic used in a variety of consumer products, most commonly within packaging &ndash; both foods and product varieties. Polystyrene, sometimes called PS plastic for short, is a naturally transparent thermoplastic which can be available as both as solid plastic or as a rigid foam material (the kind you might find wrapped around your product providing protection).

Another commonly known name for polystyrene is Styrofoam, which was invented in 1941 by the Dow Chemical Company. Is Styrofoam plastic? Yes, this is the foam product we commonly see today. This form of Styrofoam causes regular controversy even today amongst environmental groups, as Styrofoam has a slow biodegradable life, taking many years to completely decay and many landfills and litter is made of this plastic material. &nbsp;

<h2>Advantages of Polystyrene</h2>

Polystyrene foam and the plastic itself have many advantages however, which is why it is still a commonly used plastic, even today. Let&rsquo;s take a look at some of the key PS properties that make it a fine choice for many. One key advantage is that polystyrene is a thermoplastic, meaning that when it reaches the polystyrene melting point (100 degrees Celsius), it will melt instead of burning. Melted plastic can then be used for certain types of plastic molding such as injection molding along with subsequently being recycled.

Poly styrene holds its main advantage of being useful in its foam form. In terms of packaging there is no other rival in the world of plastics (if you have ever bought a large electrical product such as a television, microwave, dishwasher or cooker, chances are it is wrapped in this foam material) valuable for its cushioning and insulating properties, but it too is used as a traditional plastic which is a hard, solid plastic valuable for transparency and clarity. Many companies offer styrene plastics as a suitable choice for prototyping, similar to that of ABS plastic &ndash; since both offer low costs, ready availability, white colour and they glue, sand and cut easily.

From containers, cups and cartons, to wrappers, bags and bottles; polystyrene is involved in a wide range of products within the food industry.

<img alt="Polystyrene Takeaway Image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1470053053191-43e7bd267838?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=870&amp;q=80" style="height:580px; width:870px" />

<h2>Disadvantages of Polystyrene</h2>

As far as disadvantages go for poly foam material, it is a plastic that is inert, meaning that it doesn&rsquo;t react well to acidic or basic solutions. So why is Styrofoam bad? In terms of environmental issues polystyrene products last a long time in the natural environment which poses large litter hazards since this is a material often used in a short lifespan then thrown away making Styrofoam dangerous to animals which live in these natural habitats. It does however dissolve rapidly when it is put into contact with chlorinated or hydrocarbon substances as an alternative to this littering issue.

One of the primary properties of polystyrene is its protective factor. If you order a product which comes in a box, chances are its wrapped in a secure layer of styrene plastic or polystyrene beads to keep it safe.

<img alt="Polystyrene Styrofoam Image" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/3892914/pexels-photo-3892914.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=1&amp;w=500" style="height:375px; width:500px" />

<h2>Products of Polystyrene</h2>

In its two forms, solid plastic and foam, polystyrene properties are expansive and can be found in many industries. Polystyrene structure can also be combined with many colorants, additives and other plastics to make available in all sorts of appliances, electronics, automobile parts, toys, equipment and more. Here are just some of the products styrene polymers can be found in:

<ul>
	<li>Polystyrene cups</li>
	<li>Polystyrene block</li>
	<li>Polyfoam sheet</li>
	<li>Polystyrene beads</li>
	<li>Refrigerators</li>
	<li>Ovens</li>
	<li>Blenders</li>
	<li>Instrument panels in cars</li>
	<li>Energy absorbing door panels</li>
	<li>Sound dampening foam</li>
	<li>Computers</li>
	<li>Food packaging</li>
	<li>Building walls and roofing</li>
	<li>Test tubes</li>
	<li>Petri dishes</li>
	<li>CD/DVD cases</li>
</ul>

Since expanded polystyrene or extruded polystyrene is inert it is great for insulation, durable and is extremely water proof. Lightweight polystyrene foam provides great thermal insulation across many applications.

While polystyrene is well known in both the food and packaging industries, it is also used in the construction industry, where large Styrofoam blocks construction grade are used for walls or polystyrene insulation. 

<img alt="Polystyrene Construction Image" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/8961065/pexels-photo-8961065.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=1&amp;w=500" style="height:333px; width:500px" />

<h2>Conclusion</h2>

In this article we learned about what is polystyrene, what is Styrofoam (another branch of&nbsp;polystyrene), how is Styrofoam made, when was Styrofoam invented, styrene uses along with their advantages and disadvantages and the products you would most often see PS polymer used in.

We here at Shineyuu know all about polystyrene plastic. In fact, we know a lot about all kinds of plastics, since we are an injection molding company! If you are thinking about if your next project should include polystyrene sheets, become a polystyrene product, or are not sure which material is best to use simply&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">contact us and request a quote</a>, or indeed you can ask us any questions and we will be more than happy to assist you in any way we can!

If you enjoyed the article make sure you take a look at some of our other posts on many other materials and topics, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/all-about-acrylic">All About Acrylic</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/the-magic-of-abs-plastic">The Magic of ABS Plastic</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/the-5-types-of-plastic-molding">The 5 Types of Plastic Molding</a>&nbsp;for more great information.

PS plastic is a solid transparent plastic, but also great in foam form for packaging. Let us find out what makes it so great.

Protective and cushioning. Solid and see-through. It is all about Polystyrene!

Picking Polystyrene

<h1>Acrylic</h1>

So what is acrylic? In this article we will take a look at how it is made, what are some of the advantages and disadvantages of acrylic, along with types of acrylic and what kinds of products you can find it used in, so that you can get a better understanding of this plastic and see if it is just the right kind of plastic for your next product!

Acrylic (often misspelled regularly as one of the following: acryllic, acrillic, acyrilc, arcylic, arcylics or &nbsp;acylic) was first created in 1983 by a French chemist named Charles Moureau, but it didn&rsquo;t see success until 1933 when a German scientist named Otto Rohm patented what would later be called Plexiglass. Acrylic plastic is a transparent plastic material which is exceptionally clear and lightweight. Not only this, but it exhibits such incredible glass-like properties, offering clarity, brilliance and transparency, at only half the weight of glass and offering many times the impact resistance. &nbsp;

Because of its properties and plastic composition, acrylic plastic glass sheets were used as early as WWII, as periscopes for submarines and windows for aircraft.

Is acrylic plastic? Yes! It is a clear plastic fabric that is often used in place of glass for products including windows, lenses, skylights and aquariums! But it can also be coloured and provide decorative acrylic sheets.

<img alt="Acrylic Aquarium Image" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/3699434/pexels-photo-3699434.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=2&amp;h=650&amp;w=940" style="height:1300px; width:1800px" />

<h2>Advantages of Acrylic</h2>

As mentioned above, when compared to glass it is both significantly more lightweight and stronger, making it a great choice when glass-like products are required. From skylights to durable signs, displays and shelving, it provides incredible strength, stiffness and an aesthetic appeal that is hard to beat when you compare it to other plastics.

While being highly transparent and impact resistant, acrylic glass is also a material that is very easy to clean and polish, as well as more scratch and shatter resistant. Acrylic products also possess innate weatherability, chemical resistance and UV resistance.

Amongst plastic manufacturers, the biggest advantage from types of acrylic is its durability. Even though it has a lower pricing point, it is ten times more impact resistant than glass and when it does break, it does so safely &ndash; breaking into dull-edged pieces instead of sharp, dangerous shards like you would see with glass.

What is acrylic plastic? It can be a clear material, but it can also be a beautiful and vibrant plastic used in all kinds of artistic expression and acrylic design.

<img alt="Acrylic Painting Image" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/1532704/pexels-photo-1532704.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=2&amp;h=650&amp;w=940" style="height:1300px; width:1818px" />

<h2>Disadvantages of Acrylic</h2>

Not all is positive in the world of this transparent plastic. While it has impact resistance and strength, it is not a good choice for highly demanding applications, where something like <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/need-to-know-about-polycarbonate">polycarbonate</a> would be the wiser choice. All types of acrylic also experience a brittle failure, meaning that it can crack quickly without much bending.

What is acrylic fabric? Acrylic can even be used as fabric to make clothing. For example, sweatshirts and hoodies, gloves and jackets and even some protective clothing use this fabric because acrylic properties include durability, ruggedness and warmth.

<img alt="Acrylic Sweater Image" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/3242264/pexels-photo-3242264.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=2&amp;h=650&amp;w=940" style="height:1253px; width:1880px" />

<h2>Products of Acrylic</h2>

As mentioned above, since clear acrylic possesses much of the qualities of glass it is often used in industries that require similar, but due to its lower cost and lightness it is often preferred. It is not only used as a transparent plastic sheet, however. Plastic acrylic is often used in a whole host of aesthetic products and a variety of others too, including:

<ul>
	<li>Lenses</li>
	<li>Nails</li>
	<li>Paint</li>
	<li>Security barriers</li>
	<li>Medical devices</li>
	<li>LCD screens</li>
	<li>Furniture</li>
	<li>Skylights</li>
	<li>Windows</li>
	<li>Displays</li>
	<li>Greenhouse panels</li>
	<li>Bullet resistant glass</li>
	<li>Aquariums</li>
</ul>

Acrylic comes in many forms including: clear plastic, light gray aesthetic, white and grey aesthetic, transparent white and an assortment of acrylic products in a vast variety of colours.

<img alt="Acrylic Glass Image" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/2426546/pexels-photo-2426546.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=2&amp;h=650&amp;w=940" style="height:1253px; width:1880px" />

<h2>Conclusion</h2>

In this article we learned what is acrylic material, what is plexiglass (another verbiage for acrylic), what is acrylic made of, is acrylic expensive, along with acrylic fiber characteristics, including its strengths and weaknesses and the products you would most often see acrylic used in.

We here at Shineyuu know all about acrylic molded plastic. In fact, we know a lot about all kinds of plastics, since we are an injection molding company! If you are thinking about if your next project should including acrylic sheeting, become an acrylic product, or are not sure which material is best to use simply&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">contact us and request a quote</a>, or indeed you can ask us any questions and we will be more than happy to assist you in any way we can!

If you enjoyed the article make sure you take a look at some of our other posts on many other materials and topics, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/what-is-nylon">What Is Nylon</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/rubber-molding">Learn Rubber Molding</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/4-best-injection-molding-toys">The 4 Best Injection Molding Toys</a>&nbsp;for more great information.

What's this all about acrylic? Why is this plastic used from fingernails and vibrant paintings, to lenses and skylights? Learn all about it here.

Acrylic is a transparent plastic that is used in many products and industries. Learn all about it.

All About Acrylic

<h1>What Is Nylon</h1>

Which of the following polymers is found in stockings and ropes? The answer is nylon! So what is nylon? What is nylon used for? What is nylon made of? These questions and a whole bunch of others including what are the advantages and disadvantages of nylon will be answered as we uncover this useful plastic which has been used in many industries across the globe!

So what is nylon fabric, when was nylon invented and how is nylon made? It all began in the 1930s when an American company called DuPont introduced nylon as an alternative to silk. Nylon itself is a family name of synthetic polymers which are commonly used for types of consumer goods and apparel, some of the most famous of which being both nylon rope and stockings. Is nylon plastic? Nylon fibers are entirely synthetic, meaning that they are completely inorganic and yes, made of plastic polymers.

Nylon elasticity makes it a great choice for clothing apparel. Originally designed as an alternative to silk, nylon clothes eventually appeared on the market as another choice of aesthetic fabric.

<img alt="Nylon Fashion Image" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/4866042/pexels-photo-4866042.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=2&amp;h=650&amp;w=940" style="height:1253px; width:1880px" />

<h2>Advantages of Nylon</h2>

Nylon exploded into success upon its release in the 1930s, but why? What are the uses of nylon and what makes it a solid choice in a realm of many plastic materials available? Let us take a look at some of its advantages and why it is often chosen.

Nylon boasts a wide range of benefits; it is both strong and resilient, also offering high tensile strength and elasticity. Nylon textures possess excellent wear resistance, meaning it can resist regular wear, vibration and abrasion. It is one of the types of fabric material which is high in both impact and chemical resistance, its impact resistance is a great choice for certain furniture and the chemical resistance can resist oxidizing agents, dilute acids and alkaline that even many metals fail against. It is also incredibly lightweight, making it a preferable plastic when it comes to clothing material types.

From fishing nets to fish net stockings, nylon is used across a whole host of different industries because of a wide range of nylon properties. 

<img alt="Nylon Rope Image" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/2563682/pexels-photo-2563682.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=1&amp;w=500" style="height:333px; width:500px" />

<h2>Disadvantages of Nylon</h2>

While it has a fine assortment of nylons properties, there are some disadvantages too. Nylon is fire-resistant which on one hand is great, but on the other it easily melts. It also is prone to shrinkage and can stretch easily. It absorbs water incredibly easily, even from the air itself and when it gets wet, it deteriorates quickly. It has terrible UV resistance, becoming yellowed in colour and rapidly deteriorating and becoming fragile over a short amount of time. &nbsp;Because of these issues, nylon would be a bad choice for example in machinery or products which are heated when in use, such as those used in the construction industry.

That toothbrush you brush your teeth with? Yup, those bristles are made with nylon!

<img alt="Nylon Toothbrush Image" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/3654607/pexels-photo-3654607.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=2&amp;h=650&amp;w=940" />

<h2>Products of Nylon</h2>

Based on its selection of advantages, nylon material can be useful in a large assortment of industries and products. Some of these products which nylon fiber is used in can be found below:

<ul>
	<li>Sleeping bags</li>
	<li>Rope</li>
	<li>Seat belts</li>
	<li>Parachuting material</li>
	<li>Tubing hose</li>
	<li>Tarpaulin</li>
	<li>Dental floss</li>
	<li>Nylon fabric clothes</li>
	<li>Fishing nets</li>
	<li>Umbrellas</li>
	<li>Guitar strings</li>
</ul>

Nylon inspired a host of clothing, launching originally in the late 30s, it became a go-to fabric for both stockings material and also branching into a range of nylon fashion and nylon clothing.&nbsp;But don&rsquo;t underestimate its other uses; it can be found in many products from guitar strings to umbrellas.

<img alt="Nylon Umbrella Image" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/1486861/pexels-photo-1486861.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=1&amp;w=500" style="height:333px; width:500px" />

<h2>Conclusion</h2>

Today this article covered all you need to know about nylon, including questions like: Is nylon synthetic? What are some nylon uses? What is nylon made out of? Does nylon melt? Is nylon natural and what are some of its advantages and disadvantages?

We here at Shineyuu know all about nylon. In fact, we know a lot about all kinds of plastics, since we are an injection molding company! If you are thinking about if your next project should be a nylon product, or are not sure which material is best to use simply&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">contact us and request a quote</a>, or indeed you can ask us any questions and we will be more than happy to assist you in any way we can!

If you enjoyed the article make sure you take a look at some of our other posts on many other materials and topics, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/the-magic-of-abs-plastic">The Magic of ABS Plastic</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/need-to-know-about-polycarbonate">What You Need to Know About Polycarbonate</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/rubber-molding">Lets Learn Rubber Molding</a>&nbsp;for more great information.

Let's learn about nylon. What are its advantages and disadvantages, where it comes from and what are its possible uses!

Nylon has been around since the 1930s. What makes it a go-to plastic? Let us find out!

What Is Nylon

<h1>Rubber Molding</h1>

What is rubber molding? In this article we are going to cover what exactly it is, how it is made, some of its advantages and why you should consider it for your next project.

Rubber molding is the process of taking melted rubber and then transforming it into some form of product. This can be done by way of transferring, compression or often injecting it into a metal mold cavity, similar to that of plastic injection molding, but with injection moulding rubber instead of plastic, which began in the 1960s.

<h2>Uses for Rubber Molding</h2>

One huge benefit of rubber is that is can be molded and shaped into a wide variety of complex configurations, forms and shapes, much like that of plastic. Rubber offers the kind of durability and flexibility that can prove useful to those looking to design seals and cushioning components. Because injection mold rubber offers these kinds of properties, it is often used in a wide selection of products, including:

<ul>
	<li>Oil and gas components</li>
	<li>Fluid pumps</li>
	<li>Rubber sheet</li>
	<li>Electrical connector inserts</li>
	<li>Keypads</li>
	<li>Blood analysis machines</li>
	<li>Vibration absorbers and isolators</li>
	<li>Rubber washers</li>
	<li>Rubber diaphragms</li>
	<li>Rubber grommets</li>
	<li>Cable boots</li>
</ul>

It is also useful to remember that while natural rubber is still very commonly used now, manufacturers have created synthetic versions of rubber that have better longevity, durability and strength. Some of these manmade materials include silicone, neoprene, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) along with other various types of elastomers.

Rubber moulding products offer a host of benefits, from cost effective to easily manufactured and repeatable.

<img alt="Rubber Molding Tyre Image" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/3807167/pexels-photo-3807167.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=2&amp;h=650&amp;w=940" style="height:1253px; width:1880px" />

<h2>How Rubber Moldings Are Made</h2>

While rubber products are shaped and formed using the moulding process, it also holds another benefit. One of the main benefits of undergoing the rubber injection molding process is also to do with the fact that the material is subjected to a chemical process which both toughens and hardens the polymer chains of the raw rubber. This injection molded rubber both expands and contracts as stress is either applied or removed.

As mentioned previously, rubber is made through a selection of compression, transfer molding and injection molding. Before this however, the molding rubber is taken through the design stage. Because rubber can be molded into a variety of complex shapes, it is important to accurately configure the geometry used in the final production of a product, both to make it more economical and efficient. During the molding rubber design stage, must make key decisions such as the location of the parting line which needs a minimum draft angle. This rubber moulding design is a core part of the finished product and is vital for both the success or for failure of the end product.

Once the mold has been designed, the next stage is producing the mold which is finally created into a metal mold where the melted rubber can be put into to create the final rubber part. &nbsp;During production of this rubber molding process the manufacturing of the mold involves the use of hardened steel, beryllium hardened copper, or some forms of aluminium. Steel is often the go-to choice, as it lasts the longest of these materials and can be reused repeatedly and can often be the most cost effective choice. These molds are made by computer software engineers of rubber molding manufacturers and freelancers, which is built precisely to match the exact parameters of the design. Once the design is made it undergoes rigorous testing to see if it matches dimensional accuracy and compliance.

Rubber comes in the form of many products. From bushings and grommets to tyres and gloves, molding rubber parts has never been more in demand.

<img alt="Rubber Molding Gloves Image" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/5218007/pexels-photo-5218007.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=2&amp;h=650&amp;w=940" style="height:1253px; width:1880px" />

From there manufacturers can choose to between compression, transfer and injection molding. Compression molded is the simplest version of the three. Rubber compression mold involves when pressure is applied using a hydraulic press and squeezes or compresses the rubber together. Transfer is similar to compression molding, however the main difference is it uses a transfer system on top of the mold that feeds raw rubber into several mold cavities once the press has been closed. The rubber injection moulding process is when plastic or injection molding rubber is injected into the mold itself, which is considered best for parts that require tight tolerances with high precision and accuracy.

<h2>Types of Rubber Used for Rubber Molding</h2>

We mentioned previously just some of the rubber moulding materials that are available for selection when you decide to create molding rubber products. There are two primary types of rubber available to consumers for selection, natural and synthetic. Natural rubber comes from the rubber tree plant, removing the latex from it to produce rubber. Synthetic on the other hand is an artificial creation, polymerizing monomers into polymers. Below you can find just some of these types of rubber available to be used:

<ul>
	<li>Natural rubber</li>
	<li>Nitrile or Buna-N (NBR)</li>
	<li>Hydrogenated Nitrile Butadiene (HNBR)</li>
	<li>Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM)</li>
	<li>Silicone</li>
	<li>Fluorosilicone (FVMQ)</li>
	<li>Neoprene</li>
	<li>Styrene Butadiene (SBR)</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;These are just some of the rubber molding materials available when selecting the right kind of rubber for you product. Each one containing its own strengths and weaknesses, some possess different abrasion, crack and aging resistance. Others have different cooling and heating temperatures. To help you decide which is the best plastic to use for your next product simply <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">contact us</a> and we can help provide assistance with our many years in the industry.

<h2>Advantages of Rubber Molding</h2>

So why even use a rubber moulding material? Well there are many advantages to do so. Choosing the right molded rubber can have numerous benefits, here are just some available when selecting rubber for molding:

Depending on which of the three modes of manufacturing you choose for your moldable rubber material &ndash; injection, transfer and compression &ndash; they each offer different hosts of advantages. See the advantages for each here:

<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/custom-injection-molding">Injection molding</a> advantages

<ul>
	<li>Efficient process</li>
	<li>Very repeatable and every part is similar</li>
	<li>Capable of very complex molds</li>
	<li>Fully automated with insertion of raw material and ejection of final product</li>
	<li>Rapid cycle times</li>
	<li>Significantly reduces waste</li>
	<li>Tighter dimensional tolerances</li>
	<li>Reduced tooling time</li>
	<li>High precision products</li>
	<li>Eliminates preforming labor costs</li>
	<li>Produces little to no flash</li>
</ul>

Compression molding advantages

<ul>
	<li>Cost efficient</li>
	<li>Simple process</li>
	<li>Little waste</li>
	<li>No runners, sprues or gates</li>
	<li>Less expensive tooling</li>
	<li>Increased cavity count</li>
	<li>Perfect for larger pieces that need extended curing time</li>
</ul>

Transfer molding advantages

<ul>
	<li>Economic process</li>
	<li>Tools are cost effective</li>
	<li>Short cycle times</li>
	<li>High precision parts</li>
	<li>Good dimensional tolerances</li>
	<li>Multiple parts per cycle</li>
	<li>Accepts all types of elastomers</li>
</ul>

Whether it is compression molding rubber or <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/custom-injection-molding">injection molding</a>, parts will have high quality and efficiency. &nbsp;

<img alt="Rubber Molding Duckie Image" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/592677/pexels-photo-592677.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=2&amp;h=650&amp;w=940" style="height:1253px; width:1880px" />

Ultimately you can decide if you wish to do with compression molded rubber, transfer molded rubber or injection molding. Depending on the process you decide for your product we can help, since here at Shineyuu we are a rubber injection molding company! <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">Send us a message</a> if you need assistance in choosing the right kind of manufacturing or have any questions or concerns. &nbsp;

<h2>Conclusion</h2>

So we have covered why you should use rubber moulded parts, including a variety of advantages and possible uses for rubber injection molding.

We here at Shineyuu know all about rubber molding, since we are an injection molding company with many years in the business. If you are considering using rubber moulding for your next project, or perhaps you may simply have other manufacturing questions and concerns you can <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">contact us or request a quote</a>, and we will be more than happy to help in any way we can!

If you enjoyed the article make sure you take a look at some of our other posts on many other manufacturing processes and topics, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/plastic-parts-101">Plastic Parts 101: How to Build a Product</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/everything-on-insert-molding">Everything on Insert Molding</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/learn-all-about-overmolding">Learn All About Overmolding</a>&nbsp;for more great information.

Rubber molding has some great advantages and uses in modern manufacturing. Let us take a look at why it is used, along with some of its benefits!

Find out all about rubber molding. Why it is used and what makes it a great choice in manufacturing.

rubber molding

Let's Learn Rubber Molding

<h1>Plastic Parts 101: How To Build A Product</h1>

How is plastic manufactured? Have you ever had an idea in your head that you wanted to build? The next plastic product that could revolutionize the world or even just fatten your wallet that little bit more? It can be a daunting undertaking to build part plastics from scratch however, when you have no idea what needs to be done or undertaken. Fear not, as this article is dedicated towards all the vital steps necessary to fulfilling your next big creation.

If you are looking to create plastic parts for your next project, it is important to get a better understanding of the process, from its initial creation right through to completion. In this sense, we want to provide you with a high-level overview for the creation process of plastic molded parts. So join us in parts 101; where below you will find a step by step guide on how to bring your molded plastic parts into reality!

<h2>Create a Design</h2>

The initial stage of the plastic part process is the design stage. While a part of this process is sketching both 2D and 3D models with a technical team &ndash; design engineers and developers, it also includes other factors like considering tolerance requirements, selection of the right materials, manufacturing processes along with the end-use factors in the product which could affect performance (like high temperature environments, weathering and chemicals) and the specific industry which your product would reach (automobile plastic parts might have different safety standards when compared to another industry like food or medical, for example). To see a more in-depth example of this, you can check out our article about the <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/injection-mold-design">design stage for injection molding</a>, to provide further details.

Here you can see an example of injection molded plastic parts during the design stage.

<img alt="Plastic Parts Design Image" src="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/_next/image?url=%2Fassets%2Fimages%2F3d_model2.png&amp;w=1920&amp;q=80" />

<h2>Select a Manufacturing Process</h2>

Another basic principle of manufacturing 101 &ndash; how plastic is made. There are several different types of manufacturing processes available when considering plastic parts fabrication. The ones that would be available to you would depend on a variety of factors such as the plastic that has been chosen, costs for affordable parts, cheap plastic molding, quality of finished product, amount of products you would require to be produced and additional factors.

Some like plastic injection molding parts &ndash; offer higher quality, mass production and even offering finer details in large and small plastic pieces. But it is also considered a more expensive way of making applications, since it also requires an injection mold part. Another like 3D Printing offers potentially the cheapest way to make plastic parts, however quality suffers and can only be made in small production amounts, usually reserved for making a single prototype before moving onto other means of manufacturing.

Some types of plastic manufacturing are primarily used for specific kinds of products at a cheaper price, like how blow moulding is often used for creating bottles or extrusion moulding is a go-to for making tubes. You can find a detailed explanation of the <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/the-5-types-of-plastic-molding">5 types of plastic molding here</a>.

Here you can see some plastic injection mold parts. The melted plastic is injected into the mold, which serves as the template for the finished product.

<img alt="Plastic Parts Injection Image" src="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/_next/image?url=%2Fassets%2Fimages%2Frightone.png&amp;w=1920&amp;q=50" />

<h2>Choosing the Right Plastic</h2>

Not only do you need to select the right manufacturing process for your project, but you will also need to consider the right kind of plastic needed for the product. Choosing a certain manufacturing process will eliminate certain types of plastics that you can use or conversely, choosing the plastic you want to work with first will remove certain types of manufacturing styles available to you.

Why is selecting a plastic important? Essentially, there are a wide variety of plastics on the market and each one comes with a certain set of strengths and weaknesses. Some plastics have a higher melting temperature than others, some are stronger than others, and some give different reactions to chemicals or weathering. Some are better for recycling or some are more toxic than others. Depending on the product you want to make and the market it will be available for it is important to choose the right kind of plastic when moving forward. Take a look at our article <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/the-ten-best-plastic-injection-molding-materials">The 10 Best Plastic Injection Molding Materials</a> for a list of different possible plastics available or if you want a more detailed explanation of some plastics available you can check out our other articles on plastics here on:

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/the-magic-of-abs-plastic">ABS</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/need-to-know-about-polycarbonate">Polycarbonate</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/so-what-is-polyoxymethylene">Polyoxymethylene</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/everything-about-polypropylene">Polypropylene</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/everything-about-ldpe-low-density-polyethylene">Low Density Polyethylene</a></li>
</ul>

We understand the process of selecting the right plastic materials for your product can be a little daunting at times, which is why if you need our expertise &ndash; since we here at Shineyuu are a manufacturing company with many years in the industry &ndash; we can provide you with assistance if you <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">simply contact us here</a> and we can help you along every step of the way.

Making plastic parts is no easy feat. There are many factors involved including which plastic to use for your chosen product. Some plastics go well with certain processes, for example ABS is a great plastic that goes with injection molding &ndash; which is how the iconic Lego toys are made! 

<img alt="Plastic Parts Lego Image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1585366119957-e9730b6d0f60?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=871&amp;q=80" />

<h2>Build a Prototype</h2>

A critical step in the custom plastic manufacture process is the prototype stage. This stage is considered the final step before production can begin and is a necessary one, since prototypes are used to reveal problems which can only be seen through real-world applications, taken out of the drawing board and design stage. This allows you to not only hone your design when manufacturing plastic parts, but also to discover better efficiency and functionality of the finished custom plastic pieces.

The plastic parts manufacturer usually offers two primary ways of prototyping; CNC machining, small run <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/custom-injection-molding">injection molding</a> and 3D printing, which when built through the desired materials it can be properly tested to meet all tolerances and cosmetic appearances before the molded parts then proceed to production.

A custom plastic manufacturer will also usually offer some kind of prototyping as an additional service, usually through means of 3D printing or CNC machining.

<img alt="Plastic Parts 3D Printing Image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1611117775350-ac3950990985?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=871&amp;q=80" />

<h2>Production</h2>

After the prototyping stage has both refined and vetted your product, it is time to move into production. This can involve either small runs or large runs, but the process to duplicate plastic parts remains largely similar. Plastic parts manufacturers often suggest different types of custom plastics manufacturing depending on the number of your plastic part you would like created. For example, some types of manufacturing &ndash; like plastic injection molded parts or rotational moulding can offer faster production speeds when compared to something like 3D Printing when making larger runs (thousands of products), but when making smaller batches this may not be a significant factor.

Ever wonder how to make plastic parts for cars? Here you can see small plastic parts for a car right off the production line, thanks to custom plastic injection molding.

<img alt="Plastic Parts Car Components Image" src="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/_next/image?url=%2Fassets%2Fimages%2Fmolded_parts8.jpg&amp;w=1920&amp;q=50" />

<h2>Conclusion</h2>

We hope you have found this plastics 101 guide to be useful to you on how to make plastic parts, how is plastic made step by step and better understanding your needs for that next big plastic project undertaking.

We went through the plastic parts manufacturing process, taking us along each step and what needs to be done from creating the initial design, and selecting the correct manufacturing and plastic needed for that design. Then, we suggested what to do at the prototyping stage for your plastic mold parts, followed by the production process and what needs to be monitored at this stage so that your custom plastic product is finalized with as few issues and complications as possible.

We here at Shineyuu understand that there can be all sorts of issues and complications when it comes to creating a new product. In fact, we have spent many years in the game, since we are an injection molding company, plastic mold maker and one of the best custom plastic parts manufacturers on the market. If you are thinking about working on your next plastic parts, and have a wide variety of questions or concerns simply&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">contact us and request a quote</a>, or indeed you can ask us any questions and we will be more than happy to assist you in any way we can!

Be sure to check out our <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/case-study">Case Study</a> so that you can see a product taken from its design stage to reality.

If you enjoyed the article make sure you take a look at some of our other posts on many other materials and topics, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/injection-mold-china">Should I Choose Injection Mold in China</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/4-best-injection-molding-toys">4 Best Injection Molding Toys</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/injection-molding-vs-3d-printing">Injection Molding vs 3D Printing</a>&nbsp;for more great information.

Have you ever wondered how plastic parts are built? How you take an idea in your head and turn it into some custom molded plastic parts? Look no further!

We shall walk through the steps needed to turn your plastic part idea into a reality.

Plastic Parts 101: How To Build A Product

<h1>Plastic Injection Molding Companies</h1>

Below you can find a list of some of the top plastic injection molding companies around the world. These injection molding manufacturers have years of experience in the industry, offer competitive prices and provide custom injection molding at a high quality. These companies are ordered from highest in terms of their quality and usefulness, but all of them are a great choice for your plastic injection molding needs.

It is important to remember that since each of these top injection molding companies come from different countries across the globe, each injection molder supply offers different strengths and weaknesses. For example, some will offer lower prices because of production and wage costs, while others offer faster speed and convenience based on your location. Because of this, all of these factors will come into play when deciding on overall quality and which is the best injection molding factory for you and your next project&#39;s needs.

The process of finding a suitable injection molding manufacture can be difficult, but customers are ultimately looking for mold companies which possess a combination of quality from the final product, the speed of production and transport along with lowest costs available.

<img alt="Injection Molding Companies Piece Image" src="https://shineyuu-mold.com/assets/images/injection_molding_piece.jpg" />

<h2>Shineyuu</h2>

Undoubtedly the best plastic injection molding manufacturer on the market right now, Shineyuu has many years of experience with trained professionals across the industry. In terms of quality and care, cheap injection molding and finely-tuned custom plastic molds, this Chinese-based injection mold supplier cannot be beaten when it comes to speed and costs, with core specialty in mold making, rapid tooling and mass production.

Website: <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/">https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/</a>

Location: China

Quality: Excellent

Below is an image of the Shineyuu branch production facility.

<img alt="Injection Molding Companies Shineyuu Image" src="https://shineyuu-mold.com/assets/images/storefront.jpg" />

<h2>Hikon</h2>

This Indian based injection mold supplier has over 35 years&rsquo; experience in the world of plastic processing. Known for low costs and convenience, these specialists offer premium quality raw materials and provide a range of services including injection molding but also sheet extrusion and plastic recycling.

Website: http://www.hikonindia.com/

Location: India

Quality: Great

<h2>Vietnam Manufacturing Federation (VMF) </h2>

VMP is a Vietnamese plastic molding company which offers a great partnership between international businesses and local Vietnam factories. Incorporated in the capital city of Hanoi, this plastics molding company provides both cheaper costs and reliability. They provide not only injection molding, but also casting and precision machinery.

Website: http://vmfederation.com/

Location: Vietnam

Quality: Great

<h2>Agile Molds &amp; Molding</h2>

Another strong international moulding company which offers injection molding services is the Brazilian based Agile Molds &amp; Molding. With over 100 employees and 2000 square meters in size, this company can provide 40 to 50 quality injection moulds per month. This molding company primarily focuses on injection mold manufacturing, along with mold design and custom molding.

Website: http://www.injection-molded.com/

Location: Brazil

Quality: Good

<h2>Rosti</h2>

This German-based company is another contender for custom injection moldings, offering good quality. Rosti works with a wide range of companies, from multinational corporations to small independent businesses. Not only do they work with the injection mold supply, this plastic molding manufacturing company also uses liquid silicon molding and injection blow molding.

Website: https://www.rosti.com/

Location: Germany

Quality: Good

Below is a typical image of custom injection molders working in their facility. Perhaps these plastic injection molders will be working on your next project! 

<img alt="Injection Molding Companies Factory Image " src="https://shineyuu-mold.com/assets/images/factory_image2.jpg" />

<h2>Conclusion</h2>

Here we have covered five different injection molding companies from around the world that work with quality, price and speed so that you can find the molding company of your needs.

We here at Shineyuu know all about injection mold supplies. In fact, we know a lot about all kinds of plastics, since we are an injection molding company and plastic mold maker! If you are thinking about who should work with your next injection moulding products, or are not sure which material is best to use simply&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">contact us and request a quote</a>, or indeed you can ask us any questions and we will be more than happy to assist you in any way we can!

If you enjoyed the article make sure you take a look at some of our other posts on many other materials and topics, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/injection-mold-china">Should I Choose Injection Mold in China</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/the-magic-of-abs-plastic">The Magic of ABS Plastic</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/custom-injection-molding">Custom Injection Molding</a>&nbsp;for more great information.

Ever wonder which are some of the best plastic injection molding companies from around the globe? Look no further!

Quality, price and speed: Let's see which companies will meet your injection molding needs.

Five Top Plastic Injection Molding Companies

<h1>ABS Plastic</h1>

What is ABS plastic? ABS stands for Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene which is often commonly referred to as ABS. It is both a amorphous polymer and an opaque thermoplastic. A thermoplastic is a plastic that becomes liquefied after it reaches a certain heat temperature.&nbsp;In regards to the ABS melt point it is 210-270&deg;C. If you are wondering is ABS plastic recyclable? Well,&nbsp;instead of burning, ABS will melt and liquefy, so it is ideal for injection molding and because of this reason it can also be easily recycled.

In this article we will take a look at why so many choose ABS as their plastic of choice, including:&nbsp;Is ABS toxic? What are ABS prices? What are some ABS plastic uses including both its strengths and weaknesses.

One of the most famous products of ABS, perhaps of any plastic is Lego. With an estimate that in the course of five decades they have produced over 400 billion Lego blocks!

<img alt="ABS Lego Image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1585366119957-e9730b6d0f60?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=800&amp;q=80" style="height:533px; width:800px" />

<h2>Advantages of ABS</h2>

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene polymer is regularly chosen for a wide variety of reasons when compared to other plastic materials. ABS thermoplastic possesses a strong resistance to corrosive chemicals and physical impact. Is abs plastic strong? You bet! It is considered to be quite a tough and sturdy plastic, with strong structural strength and stiffness (have you ever tried to break a single piece of Lego before?).

When it comes to ABS plastic costs, it is actually incredibly cost effective and inexpensive; currently ABS price per pound is around $1.50. Not only this, but it is also very easy to machine or create, and when combined with another benefit &ndash; the fact that it has a low melting point &ndash; make it a very simple choice when used with injection molding or 3D printing. Even those who have their own 3D printers can find it a breeze when using ABS plastic because of the reasons listed above (ABS price and low melting point).

ABS plastic has both a good appearance, can be easily painted and has a smooth surface, making it go to choice for the keys on computer keyboards.

<img alt="ABS Keyboard Image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1563191911-e65f8655ebf9?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=800&amp;q=80" style="height:533px; width:800px" />

Not only this, but ABS also has great electrical insulation properties, excellent high and low temperature performance and is both easy to paint and glue too!

It is also important to know when wondering is ABS plastic toxic? The answer is no. It is actually one of the safer plastics on the market and because of this it is regularly used in products like children&rsquo;s toys. It does not possess any known carcinogens nor has there been any severe health defects related to ABS, however it is not used in medical implants or other medical devices.

<h2>Disadvantages of ABS</h2>

ABS does however have some disadvantages which are important to bear in mind if you are considering using ABS in your next product. It shouldn&rsquo;t be used under direct sunlight and near open flame, it can become hazardous when burned (below its melting point) producing fumes, does not possess good solvent resistance, limited uses in the food industry and while cheap, it still has a higher price than both polystyrene and <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/everything-about-ldpe-low-density-polyethylene">polyethylene</a>. &nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2>Products of ABS</h2>

Because of the strengths and weaknesses listed above, you can find ABS polymers used to create a wide range of products across many industries. Some of these applications include the following:

<ul>
	<li>Computer keyboard keys</li>
	<li>Lego toys</li>
	<li>Plastic coverings on wall sockets</li>
	<li>Containers</li>
	<li>Power-tool housing</li>
	<li>Automotive parts</li>
	<li>Luggage cases</li>
	<li>Aircraft applications</li>
	<li>Helmets</li>
</ul>

Many hardhat helmets are made with ABS because of the cost of ABS plastic, its impact resistance and its toughness.

<img alt="ABS Hardhat Image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1567954970774-58d6aa6c50dc?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=800&amp;q=80" style="height:450px; width:800px" />

<h2>Conclusion</h2>

What did we learn about ABS plastic? We learned that it is a low-cost, tough, sturdy plastic with great capabilities in both 3D printing and injection molding manufacturing, used across many industries.

We uncovered several key questions such as what is ABS material, ABS plastic price, we learned what ABS plastic stands for, ABS plastic strength, just some of the acrylonitrile butadiene styrene products it is commonly used in and a host of its strengths and weaknesses.

We here at Shineyuu know all about ABS thermoplastics. In fact, we know a lot about all kinds of plastics, since we are an injection molding company! If you are thinking about if your next project should be an ABS product, or are not sure which material is best to use simply&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">contact us and request a quote</a>, or indeed you can ask us any questions and we will be more than happy to assist you in any way we can!

If you enjoyed the article make sure you take a look at some of our other posts on many other materials and topics, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/need-to-know-about-polycarbonate">Need to Know About Polycarbonate</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/injection-molding-vs-3d-printing">Injection Molding vs 3D Printing</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/what-exactly-is-surface-finish">What Exactly is Surface Finish</a>&nbsp;for more great information.

Why is ABS plastic one of the most popular types of plastic on the market? Take a look at its strengths, weaknesses and why it is used in products like Lego.

Find out all about acrylonitrile butadiene styrene(ABS), and why it is such a popular plastic.

The Magic of ABS Plastic

<h1>Need To Know About Polycarbonate</h1>

Is polycarbonate plastic? Yes. Polycarbonate is an extremely useful and common material that you may not realize lies in many common products. In this article, we will take a look at a variety of concerns such as both the advantages and disadvantages of polycarbonate plastic, but also everyday applications and tools which it is used for.

Polycarbonate is often mistaken by many names (such as polycarbonat, poly carbon, poly carbonate, polycarbonite, polycarb, policarbonate, poly-carbonate, polcarbonate, polycarbonaten, polycabonate and polycarbon), and if you are wondering is polycarbonate a thermoplastic, yes! It is made up of a naturally transparent thermoplastic. One of its main useful purposes is the ability to transmit light in a transparent manner, similar to that of glass and, when compared to other sources of plastics, can even withstand heavy impacts far greater than these commonly used plastics. As well as this, polycorbonate is an extremely pliable plastic, meaning that it can be created at room temperature and will not crack or break, even able to be broken down. The polycarbonate melting point is around 288-316 &deg;C (550-600 &deg;F) and can be melted and liquefied at its melting point allowing for easy use within injection molding and recycling.

Any kind of protective eyewear that uses plastic almost certainly comes from polycarbonite glass. These can include safety goggles, swimwear goggles and even regular eyeglasses. Transparent polycarbonate is one of its biggest features!

<img alt="Polycarbonate Eyewear Image" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/3861456/pexels-photo-3861456.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=2&amp;h=650&amp;w=940" style="height:1254px; width:1880px" />

<h2>Advantages of Polycarbonate</h2>

Polycarbinate is great when used for certain products. Let us take a look at some of its advantages first in order to understand what they could be and get a better mental picture of the kinds of things it is capable of. The biggest strength is that it is highly transparent; meaning any kinds of glass-like plastic one would need for their product, selecting this would be a fine choice. Its toughness is one which can endure temperatures as low as -20&deg;C. It can also block UV radiation, providing 100% protection against harmful UV rays.

When a manufacturer creates a sheet out of polycarbonate, its properties can become even greater. One of the most important reasons is that of its strength. See, polycarbonte is 30 times stronger than acrylic and over 200 times stronger than glass, but is both more easily molded and also much lighter than them. This makes it great tool for defence, being used in helmets, bulletproof glass and even riot shields.

It also bolsters high chemical and scratch resistance, meaning it is very difficult to mar the surface of a piece of polly carbonite and because there is no moisture absorption, the surface is easily sanitized for both medical and food industries.

Polycarbonates lightness and transparency make it a fine selection in the automotive industry when choosing a material for a small car&rsquo;s windshield. 

<img alt="Polycarbonate Windshield Image" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/7826083/pexels-photo-7826083.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=1&amp;w=500" style="height:281px; width:500px" />

Another huge benefit is its insulating abilities, even insulating better than glass and when used for building purposes can lower energy costs. Because of its transparent and insulating nature, it is often a choice used in glass houses, even though polycarbonate houses doesn&rsquo;t have the same ring to it! Where glass is needed, polycarb glass is often a good replacement and is often used in glazing security lights and skylights.

Other possible benefits that can be utilized with polycarbonated plastic include clear windows on prototyping models, machinery guards, 3D printed models of high heat applications where ABS cannot be used, color tinted translucent prototypes and a host of diffusers and light pipes for LEDs.

Polycarbonate glass is extremely durable, making it a solid choice for riot shields and bulletproof glass.

<img alt="Polycarbonate Riot Shield Image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1485056616736-b0840bdf4732?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=768&amp;q=80" style="height:500px; width:768px" />

<h2>Disadvantages of Polycarbonate</h2>

While polycarbonate material possesses a whole host of benefits, it is also important to take a look at some of its weaknesses in order to get a better picture of when it should and should not be used. Let&rsquo;s take a look at some of the issues it has.

While it does offer great UV resistance, it is important to remember that it is prone to yellowing after long exposure to this kind of radiation. It also offers low fatigue resistance, is easily attacked by both hydrocarbons and bases as well as its mechanical properties will degrade over time after long exposure to water at over 60&deg;C. If however none of these factors are an issue for your plastic parts or product, it may still be a good idea to consider polycarbonate.&nbsp;

Polycarbonate products come in all shapes and sizes, from little fountain pens to large and expansive skylights!

<img alt="Polycarbonate Skylight Image" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/8625499/pexels-photo-8625499.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=1&amp;w=500" style="height:333px; width:500px" />

<h2>Products of Polycarbonate</h2>

Because of the wide range of advantages mentioned previously, poly carbon can be used in a whole host of products. Some of these polycarbonate materials include the following:

<ul>
	<li>Bullet proof glass</li>
	<li>Luggage</li>
	<li>Fountain pens</li>
	<li>Small vehicle windshields</li>
	<li>Skylights</li>
	<li>Window glazing</li>
	<li>Exhibits and displays</li>
	<li>Eyewear</li>
	<li>Medical equipment</li>
	<li>Enclosures</li>
	<li>Riot shields</li>
	<li>Sign faces</li>
	<li>Vehicle headlights</li>
	<li>Phone &amp; computer cases</li>
</ul>

Polycarbonate shapes a wide range of industries, from automotive to consumer, military to medical.

<img alt="Polycarbonate Face Shield Image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1588425856831-f646b9b86c14?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;q=80" style="height:500px; width:750px" />

<h2>Conclusion</h2>

So what is PC plastic? Well, it is an extremely versatile plastic, being transparent, light, durable and strong. In this article we learned about what is polycarbonate, polycarbonate material properties, polycarbonate melt temperature and a whole host of polycarbonates uses.

We here at Shineyuu know all about polycarbonate plastics. In fact, we know a lot about all kinds of plastics, since we are an injection molding company! If you are thinking about if your next project should be a polycarbonate product, or are not sure which material is best to use simply <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">contact us and request a quote</a>, or indeed you can ask us any questions and we will be more than happy to assist you in any way we can!

If you enjoyed the article make sure you take a look at some of our other posts on many other materials and topics, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/so-what-is-polyoxymethylene">What Is Polyoxymethylene</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/everything-about-polypropylene">Everything About Polypropylene</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/injection-mold-china">Injection Molding in China</a>&nbsp;for more great information.

Everything you need to know about Polycarbonate! Learn the 101 about its strengths, weaknesses, what is it and why do we use it? Find out!

Find out all about polycarbonate(PC), and how this humble plastic is extremely powerful.

Need To Know About Polycarbonate

<h1>So What Is Polyoxymethylene</h1>

Exactly what is polyoxymethylene? Polyoxymethylene &ndash; or POM for short &ndash; is a thermoplastic material which can also go by other names, such as polyacetal, acetal or known by popular brand names Celcon and Derlin. This semi-crystalline thermoplastic is widely used to produce highly precise parts due to its high lubricity. Because of this and other factors we will look into, it is an ideal plastic for mechanical, industrial and automotive parts that are commonly made with metal, among others.

POM plastic has two different polymers for production: polyoxymethylene copolymer and polyoxymethylene homopolymer, which involve two different manufacturing processes. While they are produced under different chemical circumstances, the products made from their plastics possess different strengths and weaknesses, which we can take a look at in closer detail.

Polyacetals are a good choice for the consumer electronics industry, and are commonly responsible for the electrical connectors that are produced.

<img alt="Polyoxymethylene Electrical Connectors Image" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/8278688/pexels-photo-8278688.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=2&amp;h=650&amp;w=940" style="height:1058px; width:1880px" />

<h2>Copolymer vs Homopolymer</h2>

As mentioned previously, let&rsquo;s take a closer look at the differences between the two. Polyacetal copolymer generally offer benefits in terms of long-term performance, thermal stability and degradation which increases service life, chemical resistance across wider PH ranges, easier processing and high UV / Color stability. Polyacetal homopolymer on the other hand provides increased design flexibility, thinner wall sections at same physical part performances, lighter parts, less material usage, improved mold filling, shorter molding cycle times and a potential for reduction in part production costs.

<h2>Advantages of Polyoxymethylene</h2>

But regardless of which POM material is chosen, what about Polyoxymethylene itself? What are some of its benefits overall? Let&rsquo;s take a look at some of the POM properties, to get a better understanding of what it&rsquo;s capable of.

POM resin actually boasts a wide range of well-balanced properties, from flammability performance to mechanical and physical. Even against other thermoplastics, POM materials hold a number of key advantages. These include high gloss surface, low smoke emissions, highly crystalline, more creep resistance than that of nylon, excellent dimensional stability, good electrical and dielectric properties, low water absorption, high heat and abrasion resistance, hardess, high stiffness and a low coefficient of friction.

Polyoxymethylene properties hold even more benefits when it is compared with that of various metals. These include design flexibility, high strength to weight ratio, stronger chemical/corrosion resistance, lower finished part cost, color matching possibility and inherent lubricity.

The POM plastic material is widely used in high-performance engineering components, such as small gear wheels, fasteners and ball bearings.

<img alt="Polyoxymethylene Gears Image" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/159275/macro-focus-cogwheel-gear-159275.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=2&amp;h=650&amp;w=940" style="height:1226px; width:1880px" />

<h2>Disadvantages of Polyoxymethylene</h2>

However this acetal resin is not without its disadvantages. For one, it offers poor resistance to strong acids, oxidizing agents and bases. Due to its high oxygen content it can be a highly flammable liquid and can prove to be a dangerous fire hazard. Without a suitable stabilizer system, polyacetel also holds poor thermal stability, has a limited processing temperature range, high mold shrinkage, low surface energy so it is difficult to bond without surface treatment and possesses poor resistance to UV radiation, showing that over prolonged exposure it will lead to color change, enbrittlement and a loss of strength.

<h2>Products of Polyoxymethylene</h2>

Despite the fact that the POM polymer is one of the most important plastics for a wide range of applications, it is often an invisible one &ndash; as it doesn&rsquo;t get as much attention as others, like that of <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/everything-about-ldpe-low-density-polyethylene">Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)</a> or <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/everything-about-polypropylene">Polypropylene (PP)</a>. However, despite this fact it is used in a wide range of industries, and a key takeaway of its abilities being that it has a low surface friction. Combined with thermoplastic molding, you have a material suitable for all kinds of metal-to-plastic contact areas, such as bearings in a washing machine. Anything that requires small repetitive motions where some sort of metal grates against a plastic support ultimately leads to acetal POM being a fine choice. But bearings aren&rsquo;t the only typical application of acetal polyoxymethylene, others include bushings, seat belt components, steering columns, filter housings, fasteners, insulin pens and food conveyers.

Because of its strength, harness and rigidity, it is regularly used in precision parts and is a core component of what comprises a seatbelt. 

<img alt="Polyoxymethylene Seatbelt Image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1605647381739-9bba88b1c5d1?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;q=80" style="height:500px; width:750px" />

<h2>Conclusion</h2>

To conclude, we learned all about the incredible acetal polymer otherwise known as polyoxymethylene (POM), including what is POM plastic, along with POM material properties including its advantages and disadvantages with a look at just some of the products POM plastic is capable of producing.

We here at Shineyuu know all about the material POM, along with many polyoxymethylene applications since we are an injection molding and rapid tooling company. If you need to use any acetal resins for your next project, or any other kinds of plastics for your next prototype or project simply&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">contact us and request a quote</a>, or ask us any questions and we will be happy to satisfy you!

If you enjoyed the article make sure you take a look at some of our other posts on many other materials and topics, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/4-best-injection-molding-toys">The 4 Best Injection Molding Toys</a>, <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/everything-about-polypropylene">Everything About Polypropylene</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/learn-all-about-overmolding">Learn All About Overmolding</a> for more great information.

&nbsp;

Learn about Polyoxymethylene! What is it and what products do we use it in? What about advantages and disadvantages? Learn all about it!

Find out all about polyoxymethylene (POM), and how this invisible plastic is a powerhouse.

So What Is Polyoxymethylene

<h1>Everything About Polypropylene</h1>

Before we take a look at this plastic powerhouse, it&rsquo;s important to first understand the name, since many have trouble spelling it. People have called it polypropeline, poly propylene, polypropoline, polypropilene, polypropyline, polypropelene, amongst many others &ndash; but really it&rsquo;s called polypropylene (PP), and because of the confusing name, it is often regarded as PP for short. But what is polypropylene, what are its advantages and disadvantages, where can we see it used in our daily lives and what about any safety concerns? Let&rsquo;s take a look.

What is PP plastic? Polypropylene plastic is a rigid, crystalline thermoplastic which is used in a wide range of everyday objects. Made in the mid-1950s, PP today is actually the second largest produced plastic, surpassed only by polyethylene, which was discovered only a few decades earlier. What is polypropylene made of? It is derived from petroleum and is a linear hydrocarbon resin. Polypropylene material generally consists of two main types available on the market &ndash; homopolymer and copolymer. Polypropylene homopolymer is the most widely utilized general purpose grade and is used in textiles, packaging, pipes, electrical and automotive applications. Copolymer consists of random copolymers and block copolymers. Random copolymers are great for transparent products while block is used when requiring high strength industrial products.

What is polypropylene plastic? It can be used in a wide range of products and industries, just like these collapsible crates.

<img alt="Polypropylene Collapsible Crates Image" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/139262/pexels-photo-139262.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=1&amp;w=500" style="height:335px; width:500px" />

<h2>Advantages of Polypropylene</h2>

PP material has many kinds of advantages tied to its unique chemical makeup. Let&rsquo;s explore some of the reasons why it is so widely chosen:

High melting point: Polypropylene melting point is 135-159 Celsius for copolymer and 160-165 Celsius for homopolymer, so you can see that the polypropylene temperature range is from 135-165 depending on the polymer used. Because the melt point of polypropylene is considered high, it can be used as a variety of food storage containers, making it safe for microwavable foods. Its temperature resistance is even higher than that of HDPE &ndash; high density polyethylene, along with a lower density.

Good chemical resistance: Meaning that it possesses excellent moisture and atmospheric barriers. It can withstand water, detergents, acids and bases so the plastic itself won&rsquo;t break down easily. Many manufacturers use this plastic for their detergent bottles for this reason.

Crack/Stress resistance: Over a wide range of temperatures it is both crack and stress resistant, even when it is flexed so is often used for hinges.

Durability: Polypropylene strength is another factor. It has both high tensile strength and stiffness, making it a great choice for withstanding daily wear and tear usage.

Because polypropylene materials are considered strong against chemicals they make great detergent bottles, since they won&rsquo;t break down easy.

<img alt="Polypropylene Detergent Bottles Image" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/5217889/pexels-photo-5217889.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=2&amp;h=650&amp;w=940" style="height:1253px; width:1880px" />

<h2>Disadvantages of Polypropylene</h2>

However, polyproplene material properties aren&rsquo;t perfect. This ppmaterial also holds several disadvantages that we should also examine:

Poor UV Resistance: It has poor resistance to UV as well as impact and scratches easily.

Cold temperatures: It will embrittle when exposed to temperatures below -20 Celsius.

Paint: It has poor paint adhesion.

Oxidative degradation: This is accelatered when contacted by certain materials &ndash; like that of copper &ndash; which can swell rapidly in chlorinated solvents and aromatics.

Uses for polypropylene can vary from car bumpers to DVD cases.

<img alt="Polypropylene DVD Image" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/2398354/pexels-photo-2398354.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=2&amp;h=650&amp;w=940" style="height:1253px; width:1880px" />

<h2>Products of Polypropylene</h2>

So what is polypropylene used for? Polypropylene uses can vary from a wide range of industries, as polypropylene properties are considered to be ideal for tough, robust products which can range from car bumpers, cold-weather gear for soldiers and life-saving medical tools. It is often used in the automotive industry, industrial applications, furniture market and consumer goods, including the fact that it is a key part of car batteries &ndash; one of the most recycled products in the world.&nbsp; It is used in so many products that they can even be broken down into types &ndash; rigid packaging, flexible packaging, automotive, consumer products, fibre and industrial. Here are just some examples of common uses of polypropylene:

Rigid packaging: Collapsible/stackable crates, caps, closures, condiment bottles, detergents and toiletries, DVD cases.

Flexible packaging: Cast film or bi-axially orientated PP (BOPP).

Automotive: Bumpers, cladding, exterior trim.

Consumer: Battery cases, housewares, furniture, appliances and toys.

Fibre: Tap, strapping, staple fibres, spunbound and continuous filament.

Industrial: Sheet, pip, compounding, returnable transport packaging (RTP).

Among polypropylene characteristics it is also highly recyclable, automobile battery cases being just one of many products made from recycled polypropylene (RPP).

<img alt="Polypropylene Car Battery" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/6473244/pexels-photo-6473244.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=1&amp;w=500" style="height:333px; width:500px" />

<h2>Is Polypropylene Safe</h2>

Is PP plastic safe? What about polypropylene flammability? Is polypropylene toxic? In terms of safety, PP plastic is actually one of the safest plastics on the market. It is FDA-approved for food contact, meaning that it is a go-to choice for manufacturers for the likes of food containers which hold things like yogurts, butters and cream cheese. As well as the fact it has a high heat tolerance, meaning it is used in packaging that can be heated inside of a microwave. It is also considered safe by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is considered a safer choice than other types of plastics. So is polypropylene safe? Yes. It has been tested not to show cancer in humans and also proven to be less flammable in fabrics than that of wool, but, is polypropylene flammable? With that being said it is still a highly flammable material. With regards to toxicity, it was found that it depends on the type of polypropylene containers used, as a 2019 study showed that when looking into many kinds of PP plastic that the toxicity varied dramatically from one product to the next, so is polypropylene toxic? It varies and more studies need to be conducted on the matter.

Propylene plastic is regularly used in the food industry for packaging.

<img alt="Polypropylene Food Packaging" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/1640771/pexels-photo-1640771.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=2&amp;h=650&amp;w=940" style="height:1300px; width:1733px" />

<h2>Conclusion</h2>

So in conclusion we have learned all about the wonderful and flexible polypropylene, including what is PP, the polypropylene melt point, where does polypropylene come from, PPCP material properties along with its advantages and disadvantages, what is polypropylene plastic used for showing some examples with different kinds of products in many industries and finally any concerns with polypropylene safety and its dangers.

We here at Shineyuu know all about the material PP, along with many polypropylene applications since we are an injection molding and rapid tooling company. If you need to use any polypropylene resins for your next project, or any other kinds of plastics for your next prototype or project simply <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">contact us and request a quote</a>, or ask us any questions and we will be happy to satisfy you!

If you enjoyed the article make sure you take a look at some of our other posts on many other materials and topics, such as <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/everything-about-ldpe-low-density-polyethylene">Everything about LDPE</a>, <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/the-ten-best-plastic-injection-molding-materials">The 10 Best Plastic Injection Molding Materials</a> and <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/4-best-injection-molding-toys">The 4 Best Injection Molding Toys</a> for more great information.

Check out Polypropylene, known as PP. Is it safe, what is it and what are its strengths and weaknesses!

Learning all there is to know about Polypropylene (PP).

Everything About Polypropylene

<h1>4 Best Injection Molding Toys</h1>

When it comes to toy injection molding, using plastic injection has always been a core component in the creation of multiple toys across the industry. Many toys have taken advantage of this process from transformers toy molding, plastic injection molding toy wheels to injection molding toy cars. Let&rsquo;s take a look at some of the most successful toys across the ages that have been created using injection molding.

<img alt="Army Men Injection Molding Image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1598180467735-9b81b0b5b1ff?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=889&amp;q=80" />

<h2>4 - Army Men</h2>

These little plastic figures, usually called army men or plastic soldiers, are toy soldiers that were made in the late 1930s and are still a staple in many young boys homes, namely due to their low cost and convenience. Measuring around 5cm or 2 inches tall, they are most commonly molded in either an olive green colour or beige tan. These can usually be found in most cheap hobby shops and discount stores and are often sold by the bag or bucketful. Often equipped with weapons of the WW2 era, they can usually be seen with an M16, bayonet, radio, binoculars, grenades, machineguns, rifles and bazookas. Sometimes they are packaged with additional accessories like tanks or jeeps. Vehicles themselves are often manufactured at a smaller scale, to save on both production and packaging costs. Something similar depicts Native American and cowboy plastic injection molding toys, which utilize a similar style of molding techniques and have a similar look and design as the army men. When it comes to the toy injection molding machine, it is often a rubber injection molding toy, meaning it usually uses a rubber mold to create these injection molding toy soldiers, although sometimes a steel mold can also be used.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKOHY4EBB1k" target="_blank">Check out how they are made, with tens of thousands being produced in a single day.</a>

<img alt="Barbie Injection Molding Image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1619010285759-173dcf040e4b?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;q=80" />

<h2>3 - Barbie</h2>

Another vintage injection molding toy is that of Barbie, which first saw production in March of 1959. 60&rsquo;s toy injection molding really took off with this one, as Barbie quickly became a common household toy to American girls and soon saw global success, which has lasted for generations, and even became an important part of the toy fashion doll market for over sixty years. Later, Barbie had a boyfriend made called Ken, and these two dolls became the most popular dolls in the world, selling over a billion of these dolls and making Mattel &ndash; the company which created them &ndash; their largest and most profitable line. The core component of Barbie is not only the doll itself, but the wide range of clothing and accessories that come with them and are also sold separately. Barbie has always seen some controversy over the years, as some have complained that the blonde, plastic doll look sets an unrealistic body image to girls. Despite these claims, the injection molding toy has only gone from strength to strength.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2_FF1paBew" target="_blank">See how Barbie and all kinds of other dolls are made with plastic injection here.</a>

<img alt="Gundam Injection Molding Image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1578908638278-2b372050d676?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=667&amp;q=80" style="height:500px; width:667px" />

<h2>2 - Gundam</h2>

Gundam models, otherwise known as Gunpla, are model kits which depict vehicles and characters from the fictional Gundam anime by Bandai. These kits debuted in the early 1980s and quickly became popular amongst both mecha anime fans and model enthusiasts in Japan and other Asian markets. During the 90s this influence then spread across America and Europe through exposure of the Gundam television anime and manga. These kits are made via plastic injection molding and is one of the only few toys that are sold to the public in an unfinished manner, even leaving the runners from the plastic injection molding process. The aim is for the customer the build the product themselves and when finished have a completed plastic robot model. Unlike other toys, these are usually not considered toys, since they appeal to a wider demographic, mostly appealing to teenagers up to full-grown adults, who generally refer to them as hobby kits. They come in a wide range of categories, which denotes both the size and complexity of the model and with prices that can range from just a couple of dollars to several hundreds, they are considered one of the more lucrative molding toys.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVHI7nKMqlE" target="_blank">Take a look to see this incredible process.</a>

<img alt="Lego Injection Molding Image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1529978755210-7f13333beb13?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;q=80" style="height:500px; width:750px" />

<h2>1 - Lego</h2>

Not only the king of injection molding toys but also arguably the king of toys in general, Lego has been a core staple of any child&rsquo;s home since 1949. It has now spread its influence far and wide across a number of different media from TV shows, movies, videogames and many more, even creating multiple amusement parks around the world called Legoland. Its key flagship is the toy itself, a plastic molding toy made of variously colored interlocking bricks, often accompanied with a variety of other pieces, gears and little Lego figurines called minifigures. These Legos are an excellent source of creativity for children (and adults), who can assemble and connect these bricks in a variety of different ways to construct objects, buildings, vehicles and more. Anything built can then be taken apart again to reuse and recreate anything that the mind can come up with. As of July 2015, it is reported that over 600 billion Lego parts have been produced, making it the most profitable plastic toy injection molding product in the world.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3oiy9eekzk" target="_blank">View this interesting process in the making here.</a>

<img alt="Plastic Toy Image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1565174408946-a7a8c16a3933?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=889&amp;q=80" style="height:500px; width:889px" />

<h2>Conclusion</h2>

When it comes to plastic injection molding for toys, it&rsquo;s clear that some of the most successful companies have all used plastic molding for their production needs. From Legos to army men, Barbie to Gundam, they have all taken advantage of injection molding toy figures for its ease, cost-effectiveness and convenience. But that&rsquo;s not the only thing, most companies create these toys from selecting a Chinese toy factory injection molding company and assisting them with their needs. That&rsquo;s where <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">we come in</a>. We at Shineyuu are an injection molding company and manufacturers for toy molding, along with many other industries including automotive, medical and consumer parts. If you are looking for a molding injection toy maker to assist you with kids toy injection molding, or any kind of molding needs, simply <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">contact us</a> or <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">send us a quote</a> and we can help you along the way.

If you enjoyed this article be sure to check out our other wide selection of materials, such as <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/everything-about-ldpe-low-density-polyethylene">Everything About LDPE</a>, <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/injection-mold-china">Should I Choose Injection Molding in China</a> and <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/the-5-types-of-plastic-molding">The 5 Types of Plastic Molding</a> for more great information.

There are a lot of toys on the market, but when it comes to some of the best they all have something in common, they are made with injection molding. Let's see!

Let's check out 4 of the best toys made with injection molding.

4 Best Injection Molding Toys

<h1>Learn Everything&nbsp;About LDPE</h1>

So what is LDPE? When it comes to injection molding flexible plastics, it turns out that low density polyethylene or LDPE for short, is actually the most popular in the world, accounting for 34% of the total plastics market. Considered to be the king of softer plastics, low density polythene actually comes from polyethylene, of which there are two main types: low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). LDPE plastic is made with both high temperature and pressure whereas HDPE is made with both low pressure and temperature. , LDPE material properties are soft, lightweight and flexible and is considered to be one of the most affordable plastics on the market.

Low density polyethylene LDPE works great for any kind of soft plastic sheet, like all of this bread packaging:

<img alt="Bread Packaging LDPE Image" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/6097887/pexels-photo-6097887.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=2&amp;h=650&amp;w=940" style="height:1253px; width:1880px" />

<h2>Advantages of LDPE</h2>

To get a better understanding of low density polyethylene, let&rsquo;s take a look at some of its advantages amongst other plastics on the market, and why people chose to use it. Here are some of its key factors:

Chemical resistance: One of the core LDPE characteristics is its chemical resistance. &nbsp;It is capable of withstanding a variety of alcohols, dilute alkalis and acids. Because of these resistances, it is often a go-to choice within the food industry, being used for both wrapping and packaging food products.

Moisture resistance: This includes both water vapour and weathering. A key characteristic making it useful for products like containers and bin bags, since no one wants any liquids to leak out of these bags, often LDPE material is the best option.

Impact resistance: This low density plastic, despite its low tensile strength, has a surprisingly high impact resistance, making any product with this plastic rather durable, a reason why both water pipes and drink containers are made with plastic LDPE. Particularly drinks that are catered towards younger children, who have a habit of dropping things repeatedly, this is often a wise choice.

Electrical resistance: Like all plastics, LDPE is pretty much shock-proof. Combined with the fact that this is a flexible polyethylene, you can often find it used in a wide range of insulation products, like that of electrical wires and cables.

LDPE toys are another option, like these hollow playpen balls:

<img alt="Playpen Balls LDPE Image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1585081514381-429d5275c855?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=667&amp;q=80" style="height:500px; width:667px" />

<h2>Disadvantages of LDPE</h2>

Let&rsquo;s look at some of the disadvantages of this flexible plastic material, by looking&nbsp;at more LDPE properties:

Heat: LDPE offers little to no UV resistance, and is a bad choice when exposed to high temperatures. Therefore any fixture or container that must endure prolonged, direct heat must be made of a different material. Not only this but it is also extremely flammable, and caution must be taken to avoid the harmful chemicals it can produce.

Stress Cracking: Another downside of this polyethylene plastic is that it is highly susceptible to stress cracking, which is the process of an internal or external crack in a solid body, in this case the plastic, which is caused by tensile, compressive or shear force.

Thin, lightweight and flexible, perfect for food wraps and plastic bags:

<img alt="Plastic Bag LDPE Image" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/5835063/pexels-photo-5835063.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=1&amp;w=500" style="height:333px; width:500px" />

<h2>Products of LDPE</h2>

Based on its properties, you probably have a better idea of what kind of plastic we are dealing with here. Considered one of the most flexable plastics, this lightweight plastic material can be used in a wide range of industries. These can include just some of the following: food wraps, plastic bags, juice packets, milk pouches, toys and electrical cables and wiring.

Also a good choice for juice packets and milk pouches:

<img alt="Ice Pops LDPE Image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1530302038027-212bcaf7d93c?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;q=80" style="height:500px; width:750px" />

<h2>LDPE vs HDPE</h2>

While we have already looked at what low-density polyethylene is composed of, it is also important to examine its counterpart, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), first by analysing both the similarities of these polyethylenes, but also what separates them, and when one should be considered over the other.

Both of these flexable plastics share many similarities, since they both fundamentally compose of the same polymerized ethylene molecules. Because of this, they both have low material weight, are highly recyclable, have a low cost to manufacture and fabricate, are both resistant to chemicals, water vapour and weathering, with high impact strength and a tensile strength that ranges from around 0.20 to 0.40 N/mm2. Both of these materials, when used in injection molding operations, meet the same criteria of having fast injection speeds and possess a melting temperature of 180 to 280 degrees Celsius (355 to 535 Fahrenheit). Because of these factors you can find both of them within similar industries, like automotive, electrical, hydraulic, packaging and piping.

But where do they differ? One core aspect of the LDPE polymer is that it is branched, whereas in HDPE, the polymers have a more crystalline structure, this difference creates distinct characteristics between the two. For example when it comes to physical characteristics, LDPE is softer and more flexible than HDPE, along with having a lower melting point and is more transparent. But unlike HDPE, it is also more prone to cracking from stress. HDPE on the other hand, is considered to be rigid, durable and provides an ever greater chemical resistance. Its higher melting point also helps it to withstand greater temperatures than LDPE, the crystalline structure resulting in greater strength of opacity of the material.

Its flexibility and electrical resistance makes this low density polymer a good choice in electrical wiring too: 

<img alt="Electrical Wires LDPE Image" src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/2881229/pexels-photo-2881229.jpeg?auto=compress&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;dpr=1&amp;w=500" style="height:333px; width:500px" />

<h2>Conclusion</h2>

So to sum up this polyethylene powerhouse, low density polyethylene (LDPE) is a lightweight plastic which works great when molded into a flexible plastic sheet or even that of electrical cables and wires. The properties of LDPE show that it is great when it comes to a wide array of resistances, such as chemical, moisture, impact and electrical, however can suffer from heat and stress. Often best used for bags, pouches, films, wraps and even toys. When compared to HDPE, they share many similarities, however low density polyethylene properties make it softer, transparent and more flexible. Perhaps you are considering using this plastic, or any other kinds of plastic for your next project and that where <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">we come in</a>. We here at Shineyuu are experts on plastic injection molding. It&rsquo;s a core part of what we do. For more information, assisting you with choosing the right plastic for your needs or assisting in any way we can with your next product, simply <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">contact us now</a> to ask any questions or <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">send us a quote today</a>.

If you enjoyed this article be sure to check out our other wide selection of materials, such as <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/the-ten-best-plastic-injection-molding-materials">The 10 Best Plastic Injection Molding Materials</a>, <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/custom-injection-molding">Custom Injection Molding</a> or <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/everything-on-insert-molding">Everything on Insert Molding</a>, for more great information.

&nbsp;

Let''s look at LDPE, otherwise called Low Density Polyethylene. What is it, what are its advantages and disadvantages, along with products it's used in!

Learning all there is to know about Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

Learn Everything About LDPE

<h1>Everything on Insert Molding</h1>

So what exactly is insert molding? Insert molding is a process that involves using an insert &ndash; oftentimes made of metal &ndash; which is placed inside of a mold and then encapsulated with molten resin. This form of encapsulation, once the plastic has hardened, makes a single solid piece that is generally stronger than ones which require a secondary assembly. So to put simply, think of a metal piece that is then covered with plastic, like a USB stick, hammer or screwdriver, all of which take advantage of the insert mold process, but they can also extend to more complex injection mold inserts like that of a battery or motor.

Here we can see a classic example of insert molding - the screwdriver - with the injected plastic of the handle being wrapped around the metal rod:

<img alt="Insert Mold ScrewDriver Image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1603227756386-6da8d06e2bb5?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;q=80" style="height:500px; width:750px" />

<h2>Why Use Insert Molding</h2>

So why would you decide to use these insert molding technologies? Let&rsquo;s consider some of the reasons why many companies choose to use the insert moulding process across many products.

Cost: Since insert injection moulding is created by using a single shot, but has joined two or more parts together, it has reduced the number of assembly and labor costs.&nbsp;It only requires one person to work the machine, as a&nbsp;single worker simply&nbsp;places the metal into an insert mold and then lets the plastic flow. Not only this, but it reduces the number of necessary parts and in turn streamlines logistics around part tracking, shipping and supplier consolidation.

Size &amp; Weight: Because the parts are joined together with a strong, lightweight resin it does away with extra components like fasteners or connectors. Not only this, but these molded inserts are designed smaller than assembly parts and its weight is also lighter by comparison, in turn also affecting cost of the materials.

Reliability: When metal insert molding or plastic insert molding has taken place, the molded material becomes surrounded in thermoplastic, tightly holding it together in place. This means that the molded metal or material is prevented from loosening, misaligning, mismatching and other similar sorts of issues. Not only this, but the plastic resin molded in inserts contains improved shock and vibration too.

Electrical plugs are another example of metal being wrapped in plastic via insert moulding:

<img alt="Insert Mold Plug Image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1618911138919-dcabd0bd6108?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;q=80" style="height:500px; width:750px" />

<h2>Materials for Insert Molding</h2>

Generally insert molding can utilise a wide range of polymers to meet your product&rsquo;s requirements, with each material giving its own unique properties and best selected on the conditions and performance of your completed component. The main choices are often thermoplastics, which are an environmentally-friendly material that can be reheated and reused. Thermosets which are similar however cannot be melted and reused once cured and elastomers, which are natural, recyclable, synthetic polymers like that of rubber, also known for their elastic properties.

<h2>Insert Molding &amp; Overmolding Differences</h2>

Although similarities exist, insert molding and overmolding both have their differences. For insert moulding, as mentioned previously, encapsulates the metal or other material with a strong single-molded piece of plastic, think like that of a screwdriver, USB stick or hammer. Overmolding however, does not have this kind of encapsulation. What is overmolding? The overmolding process involves injecting an initial plastic piece &ndash; known as the substrate &ndash; and then waiting for it to cool first. Once this is done it is then layered with a second overmolding plastic, metal overmolding or an overmolded rubber, imagine like that of some toothbrushes.

Oftentimes, the insert molding process is metal wrapped in plastic, whereas the overmolding process is plastic wrapped in another material, in this toothbrush example it&#39;s covered in rubber:

<img alt="Overmolding Toothbrush Image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1574269909489-99666f1fefdc?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=755&amp;q=80" style="height:500px; width:755px" />

<h2>Insert Molding vs Overmolding</h2>

When comparing both insert molding vs overmolding, it is best to look at their strengths and weaknesses in order to determine which is best for you and your needs.

Using injection moulding inserts contains a selection of benefits. One such being the fact that it can completely eliminate the need to use secondary assembly operations, meaning it cuts down on manufacturing times. Because insert injection molding covers the piece in one solid plastic, it is a fine choice for customers who seek tougher parts that require less assembly, with a larger variety of materials available to choose from. Insert molded parts do have some limitations however, such as prototype molding becoming a challenge without a corresponding 3D printer to conduct test runs on.

A wide range medical insert molding is done too, with tubing components, stethoscopes, needles and thermometers being just some of the possibilites:

<img alt="Insert Molding Medical Image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1609725236589-d987ffc8133a?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;q=80" style="height:500px; width:750px" />

Overmolded parts also hold their own key benefits. These overmoulding products can be manufactured with a wide range of materials and colors in a reasonably simple manner, giving products produced in this way an aesthetic look and feel that can add extra layers of attraction. Over molding can also reduce the number of man hours needed, thus lowering expenses when compared to other methods of manufacturing, the reason being that overmold is produced on the same machine, it does not need to be transferred to a secondary machine to complete the process. For production runs it&rsquo;s a good choice, but holds larger upfront costs meaning that it requires a large number of parts to be produced to make an investment worth the choice.

When considering which option is the best to choose it is wise to look at different scenarios. If you are producing a product that contains non-plastic parts included during the production process &ndash; such as adding metal to a mold which will then be covered in plastic &ndash; then injection molding inserts are&nbsp;the way to go. If then, the item you are manufacturing contains multiple kinds of plastics then overmolding may be the best scenario. It may however be difficult to decide, as your product may have multiple parts and materials. In this manner you can always contact us &ndash; <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">Shineyuu, the injection molding specialists</a>. We can help both with consultation and by bringing your product to life. Simply click on <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">contact</a> and we can help with your product&rsquo;s design and create it with our injection molding, overmolding and insert molding processes.

<h2>Conclusion</h2>

Insert molding is a common option for many parts and products. From medical devices, thermostats and printers to electrical plugs and screwdrivers, its involvement lies in many thermoplastic processes. Maybe you are considering it for your next project, and that&rsquo;s where <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">we come in</a>. Also be sure to take a look at some of our other finely written articles, like <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/learn-all-about-overmolding">Learn All About Overmolding</a>, <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/the-5-types-of-plastic-molding">The 5 Types of Plastic Molding</a> or <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/injection-molding-vs-3d-printing">Injection Molding vs 3D Printing</a> for more great information.

We here at Shineyuu are injection molding experts. Insert molding is a core part of what we do. For more information, assisting you with an insert mold design guide or helping you on your next product, simply&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">contact us now</a> to ask any questions or <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">send us a quote today</a>.

&nbsp;

So what exactly is insert molding? Let's learn everything about it including what it is, why it's used and how it compares and differs from overmolding!

Find out all about insert molding. An interesting process for any injection molding design.

insert molding

Everything on Insert Molding

<h1>Learn All About Overmolding</h1>

So what is overmolding? The overmolding definition is an injection molding process which involves creating a part with two or more plastic materials. It is first injected with a base component, also known as the substrate, which is then given time to harden. These overmolded substrates are often made of plastic. Then the second layer is added, usually the overmolding process takes place with plastic, thermoplastic composite materials or overmolding rubber. Over molding often can be used in a wide range of applications and industries, including automotive, medical, military, overmolding electronics and many more, the reasons for which we will take a look at in further detail below.

<h2>Why Would You Overmold</h2>

So why exactly would someone choose overmolded plastic over unmolded material? There are a few factors why you may decide overmoulding.

Comfort: One such factor is comfort. Overmolded products often offer an enhanced feel that customers may find more tactile than one without. Take for example overmolded rubber on a plastic toothbrush, without it the toothbrush is still useable, but this extra process enhances its comfort and improves the quality of the product in the consumer&rsquo;s eyes.

Visual: Speaking of how the consumer views the products, it is also a great enhancer of a products visible appeal. It helps a product to stand out on the shelf, by using multiple colored plastics it can provide a striking colour contrast. This composite process can even emboss a logo or pattern on a customized substrate.

Cost: In certain industries it can even reduce the cost of spending, since it reduces the number of required parts needed to be added to a product. In the automotive industry for example, it can eliminate the assembly of components for gaskets or bumpers, completely removing secondary finishing operations like priming, painting and coating.

Grip: Others use it for extra grip, improving product performance, perfect for tactile sensitivity like tools or medical products.

The classic Colgate toothbrush uses an over mold design, utilizing both rubber over molding for grip and also for nicer visual appeal:

<img alt="Toothbrush Overmolding Image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1574269909489-99666f1fefdc?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=755&amp;q=80" style="height:500px; width:755px" />

<h2>Materials for Overmolding</h2>

There are a wide range of materials available when it comes to choosing an overmold. It&rsquo;s important however, to be aware of the right materials when deciding on which to choose as different choices can yield different properties when combined. For example, choosing the right plastic for metal overmolding can result in thickness effects or hardness. Rubber overmolding over a plastic product can result in a comfortable grip, like that you can find on a toothbrush. When it comes to injection overmolding there are a wide variety of options available, these include: &nbsp;ABS, HDPE, PEEK, Nylon, PC, PE, PEI, PBTR, PMMA, POM, PP and many more, including other thermoplastic composites.

<h2>Overmolding &amp; Insert Molding Differences</h2>

While they are similar, overmolding is different to insert molding. Overmolding, as mentioned, involves waiting for the first layer (the substrate made of plastic) to cool first, and then is combined with another overmolding plastic. Insert moulding involves placing an insert &ndash; usually metal &ndash; into a mold which then has injected plastic flow around it. For insert molding, think of something like a screwdriver, hammer or a USB stick. This encapsulates the metal with a strong single-molded plastic piece, overmolding &ndash; although the plastics are joined together &ndash; has no such encapsulation.

The handle of the drill&nbsp;utilizes overmolding, while the hammer uses insert molding:

<img alt="Overmolding &amp; Insert Molding Image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1540103711724-ebf833bde8d1?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=755&amp;q=80" style="height:500px; width:755px" />

<h2>Overmolding vs Insert Molding</h2>

When we look at insert molding vs overmolding, it is best to examine both of their strengths and weaknesses.

Insert molded injection has a variety of benefits. Since it eliminates the need for secondary assembly operations, it cuts down on manufacturing times. Because it is used to create one encapsulated mold it is also a great choice for those seeking strong parts that don&rsquo;t require much assembly, with a larger variety of materials. Insert moulding does have its limitations however, as prototype molding can be a challenge without a corresponding 3D printer for test runs.

Overmolding on the other&nbsp; hand also holds many benefits. Products can be manufactured with multiple materials and colors relatively simply, as mentioned previously this adds extra aesthetic design elements to products not possible otherwise. Overmolding also requires less man-hours and cost when compared to other manufacturing methods, since it does not need to be transferred to other machines to complete its process. For large production runs, or colourfully designed products, overmolding materials is generally a good way to go. However, its upfront costs can be quite high so this means producing a large number of parts to make the costs worthwhile.

Using overmolding techniques can make cars even lighter:

<img alt="Car Overmolding Image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1554744512-d6c603f27c54?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;q=80" style="height:500px; width:750px" />

So what are the best scenarios to use one or the other? If your product contains non-plastic parts which are included in the product process then plastic insert molding is the way to go. If however, your product contains multiple types of plastic or polymers then over molding may be the right choice. Although your product may have multiple parts and so it may be difficult to determine which choice to make. Fortunately at Shineyuu, we can help with that, and can help with consultation and bring your product to life. Simply contact us today and we can aid with your product design and build it up with our injection molding processes.

<h2>Conclusion</h2>

Overmolding is a regular addition to many products. From using silicone overmolding in babies pacifiers to plastic overmolding on a drilling tool, it&rsquo;s involved in many thermoplastic processes. Perhaps you need it or will consider it for your next project, and that&rsquo;s where <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">we can help</a>. Also make sure you check out our other articles, like <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/what-exactly-is-surface-finish">What Exactly is Surface Finish</a>, <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/the-ten-best-plastic-injection-molding-materials">the 10 Best Plastic Injection Materials</a>, or <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/custom-injection-molding">Custom Injection Molding</a>&nbsp;for more.

We here at Shineyuu are injection molding experts. Overmolding is a core part of what we do. For more information, assisting you with an overmolding design guide or helping you on your next product, simply <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">contact us now to ask any questions or send us a quote today</a>.

Find out all about overmolding! What it is, the materials and why you'd need it. Compared to insert molding and all the difference see why you need this today!

Find out all about overmolding. An intriguing process in any injection molding design aesthetic.

overmolding

Learn All About Overmolding

<h1>The 5 Types of Plastic Molding</h1>

Below we will look at some of the different types of molding involved when it comes to manufacturing a plastic product. We will examine each type, how it works, their cost, their ideal scenarios to be used and also which products they are generally good for manufacturing. In this way, you will have a better understanding of how to make plastic molding, but also which moldedplastic process would be best for you and your needs.

<img alt="Extrusion Moulding Image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1616661317985-aeb2a13016d6?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=749&amp;q=80" />

<h2>Extrusion Moulding</h2>

One of the first types of molding we can discuss today is that of extrusion molding. With extrusion moulding, hot melted plastic is pushed through a shaped hole which in turn creates a product that is both lengthy and uniform in its shape. This customized shape which the plastic is pushed through isn&rsquo;t a mold, but rather a &lsquo;die&rsquo;. This die is custom made for whatever plastic molding part the customer wishes to produce. Imagine the extrusion machine itself is like that of Plah Doh, in the way that it pushes the dough through a shaped hole in order to achieve its desired design.

Many long and fixed cross-sectional profiled products can be made from extrusion moulding. These include straws, tubes, pipes, hoses, even glass. The parts themselves don&rsquo;t need to be round, they can also be square for example. They simply have to keep a similar shape throughout. Because of both the machines and dies relative simplicity, extrusion molding is one of the types of plastic moulds that is actually reasonably cost-effective, but because of that same simplicity don&rsquo;t expect to make parts that are overly complex or detailed.

<img alt="Blow Moulding Image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1536939459926-301728717817?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;q=80" />

<h2>Blow Moulding</h2>

Another type of molding is that of blow molding. Blow moulding follows a very similar process to that of glass blowing, or even like that of blowing up a balloon. The process involves a machine which heats up raw plastic until it becomes liquidized. Then, it injects air into it and it expands like a balloon. The plastic itself is blown into a shaped mould and once it expands it presses against this mould and takes the shape of the products&#39; design.

This process works extremely quickly, can make thousands of product creations,&nbsp;is considered one of the more economical molding techniques and is often the go-to choice for those who which to create uniform, thin-walled containers, the perfect choice for small objects like bottles and larger ones like that of storage containers and drums. Users can also create a more customized product with a variety of thermoplastics, and commonly used materials include that of polypropylene and both high density polyethylene and low density polyethylene.

<img alt="Compression Moulding Image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1603175922978-b10e84330c35?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;q=80" />

<h2>Compression Moulding</h2>

Compression molding is another type of moulding which, as its name implies, involves a piece being compressed, or in a non-technical way, being pressed together. The heated plastic is placed into one of the plastic moulders and then another piece is pressed down on top of it and given its specific shape.

Compression moulding is best used for the replacement of metal parts with plastic ones. It is also mainly used for smaller parts and products which require a high volume. Because these pieces are both strong and durable, it is often an ideal choice in the automotive industry, being used for small automotive pieces, hoods, fenders, scoops and spoilers. It is one of the types of plastic molds considered to be both cost-effective and extremely efficient.

<img alt="Rotational Moulding Image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1532996122724-e3c354a0b15b?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;q=80" />

<h2>Rotational Moulding</h2>

Rotational molding, also known as rotomolding in the mold manufacturing industry, uses both high temperature and &ndash; as the name implies &ndash; rotational movement to coat a mold&rsquo;s insides in order form a product part&rsquo;s desired shape. This in turn creates large hollowed parts. Very little material is wasted during this process, and oftentimes the excess materials can be re-used, making this one of the more economical and environmentally friendly types of moulding plastic.

Since this method of plastic moulding creates large hollow plastic parts, it is often used to create things like bulk containers, car parts, pet houses, recycling bins, storage tanks and kayaks, among many others. It is often a fine choice to consider rotational moulding when making parts that range within the tens to the several thousands of products needed to be manufactured and it can also be reasonably cost-effective, even when producing smaller amounts. It is one of the types of moulding processes that can be highly customized and intricate, facilitating inserts, curves, logos and slots for plastic or metal inserts also.

<img alt="Injection Moulding Image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1609725236589-d987ffc8133a?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;q=80" />

<h2>Injection Moulding</h2>

One of the final types of plastic molding is injection molding, otherwise known as <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/custom-injection-molding">custom injection molding</a>. This works by, as its name implies, injecting the heated plastic into a custom-built mold, often made of metal or aluminium. Once this heated plastic has cooled, the mold is opened and the plastic is ejected, revealing a solid plastic part. Injection molding is generally considered one of the more expensive forms of molding. This is because it is also one of the most versatile and flexible ways of moulding plastic. It can be used to create the widest variety of parts, ranging in both shapes and sizes and a part&rsquo;s details can vary from incredibly simple to vastly detailed and complex. See our <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/injection-mold-design">injection molding section</a> for more detail.

Because of this wide scope, injection moulding is used across a wide range of industries, from automotive, electrical, commercial and many others, making this a viable choice for many when choosing the right moulding plastic. It is also by far one of the most ideal choices when it comes to creating large quantities of a product, known for mass producing parts, ranging from tens to hundreds of thousands. It is commonly used in car parts, electrical pieces and switches, plastic bottle caps and a broad range of medical devices. It is also what we do here at <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/">Shineyuu</a> &ndash; a mould manufacturing and injection molding company &ndash; do, so if you need injection molding, or are not sure of which is best for your product manufacturing, simply <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">drop us a message</a> and we can find out which of the different types of moulding is best for your needs.

<h2>Conclusion</h2>

We have covered 5 types of molding plastic, with a variety of different molding technics and the best times to use them, as well as the kinds of products you can find created by them. If you have any further questions you can always <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">drop us a line</a> here at Shineyuu, an injection molding company, and we will help assist you in any way we can.&nbsp;

You can also check out our other blog posts about other topics on injection molding, such as <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/injection-molding-vs-3d-printing">Injection Molding Vs 3D Printing</a>, <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/injection-mold-china">Injection Molding in China</a> or the <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/the-ten-best-plastic-injection-molding-materials">10 Best Plastic Injection Molding Materials</a>.

Let's take a look at some of the most popular and common types of plastic molding, when they should be used and the kinds of products made by them.

Let's take a look at 5 different types of plastic molding.

The 5 Types of Plastic Molding

<h1>Injection Mold China</h1>

China has always been the go-to country for manufacturers of plastic products, with manufacturing history that stretches back over many decades, delivering parts all across the world. It&rsquo;s no wonder that other countries have tried to stigmatise this fact with claims that Chinese products are low-quality and made from sub-par materials. While some questionable companies may try to cut corners, which is common all across the globe, we here at Shineyuu &ndash; a manufacturing and injection mold company in China &ndash; do not. We wouldn&rsquo;t have been around over 20 years otherwise! Let&rsquo;s take a look at some of the main concerns and questions you may have regarding all things involving injection mold in China. But if you&rsquo;re wondering how to get a quote from China to injection mold a part for me? <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact" target="_blank">Simply contact us today!</a> 

<h2>Injection Mold China</h2>

So when considering countries to choose from, is China plastic injection mold a good choice? Let&rsquo;s take a closer look at some of the advantages of choosing a Chinese company for your needs:

Price: When you consider questions like plastic injection mold China vs USA or injection mold cost Mexico vs China, comparing Europe or Asian markets, the choice always ends up clear. The conclusion is that prices in China simply cannot be beaten, both on the plastics parts produced but also on developing the mold itself. Saving you &ndash; the customer &ndash; more profits to keep and do with as you please.

Experience: There&rsquo;s a reason why there are so many plastic injection mold manufacturers in China. We have simply been in the game longer. For decades in fact, the manufacturing industry has been a core component of the country. With many injection mold makers in China, servicing companies and customers across the globe, providing business to small and large companies along a wide spectrum inbetween.

Below you can see an image of our factory, along with our China injection mold builders, working hard on the latest molds:

<img alt="Shineyuu factory image" src="https://shineyuu-mold.com/assets/images/factory_image2.jpg" />

<h2>Injection Mold Costs from China</h2>

Have you ever wondered is it cheaper to get plastic injection mold in China or US? As mentioned previously, one of the biggest key factors in conducting business with a China injection mold maker is that of price. It cannot be rivalled. Even when you factor in concerns like how much more will it cost to import an injection mold from China, the price still works out lower than if you choose a competitor from another country. To find out exactly how much an injection mold cost from China can be, and be amazed at the savings you will make, <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact" target="_blank">simply contact us for a free quote on your product</a>. When you realize how much the injection mold cost in China is significantly cheaper compared to other locations you will never look back again.

<h2>Is Injection Mold from China Safe</h2>

A typical China injection mold factory goes through a stringent series of checks and balances to ensure that safety is one of the key and critical factors when it comes to making your product. All Chinese manufacturing companies must ensure that they have the correct certification. You can see ours here or at the bottom of every page on this website, called the <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/assets/images/iso9001_2015.jpg" target="_blank">ISO:9001-2015</a>. This is to represent how a China injection mold company has met the appropriate quality systems and that any product made by us will be completely safe. So you don&rsquo;t need to worry about things like are the injection mold plastic from China safe on motorcycles or will this product fall apart. We take safety very seriously.

Here you can see one of our employees drilling and measuring a piece:

<img alt="Shineyuu employee drilling image" src="https://shineyuu-mold.com/assets/images/drilling_measure.jpg" />

<h2>Is China Best for Injection Molding</h2>

Injection mold making in China has always been a significant piece of the mold making market across the globe, and it doesn&rsquo;t show signs of stopping anytime soon. With the likes of China manufacturing shoes with injection mold, to toys, medicals devices, electronics, car parts and many others &ndash; many large companies still choose to work with China again and again. If you choose to work with an injection mold manufacturer in China &ndash; <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/about" target="_blank">like us</a> &ndash; you can&rsquo;t go wrong.

Another image of our&nbsp;injection mold factory from China:

<img alt="Shineyuu facility image" src="https://shineyuu-mold.com/assets/images/factory_image3.jpg" style="height:4768px; width:4768px" />

<h2>How Shineyuu Does Injection Mold</h2>

In order to understand why we are an amazing supplier of injection mold from China, you can always learn more about us, such as checking out our page on <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/injection-mold-design">injection mold design</a>, or our blog post on <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/custom-injection-molding">custom injection molding</a>, or learn more about our mold injection production facility in China from our <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/about">about us page</a>. Curious about how to make an injection mold prototype in China? You can check out our <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/case-study">case study</a>, where we take you along to see a product&rsquo;s process from start to finish.

If you are looking for injection mold in China, you can&rsquo;t go wrong with us. Here at Shineyuu, we happily provide superior injection molding and rapid tooling services at extremely competitive prices. We utilize steel molding tooling techniques, which is utilized as part of the molding process to create multiple copies of your parts. Our services include rapid tooling and mass production tooling. For more information or looking for an injection mold tooling calculator in China, simply <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">contact us instead to get a quote today</a>!

Is injection mold in China a good choice? With so many countries to choose from, is China still the right decision for injection molding? Let's see.

Is China the king of injection molding? Let's take a look.

china

Should I Choose Injection Mold in China

<h1>The Ten Best Plastic Injection Molding Materials</h1>

During product development, one of the most important factors in plastic injection molding is deciding the right material to use, since it directly affects the part&rsquo;s performance and molding operation. There are a variety of factors involved when it comes to choosing the right kind of injection molding materials, such as considering their colour, hardness, flexibility, weight and cost, amongst other factors, amounting to thousands of different plastic materials available on the market.

So which injection moldable plastics to choose? Which are the best moulding materials in your injection mold supply? To help better understand the process, let&rsquo;s take a look at some of the best injection mold plastics below and what products they are most known for:

<img alt="Polycarbonate Image" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2015/05/22/20/25/polycarbonate-779671_960_720.jpg" style="height:640px; width:960px" />

<h2><a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/need-to-know-about-polycarbonate">Polycarbonate</a></h2>

One of the strongest, most shatter-resistant injection molded plastic materials is that of polycarbonate, otherwise known as PC. PC is a transparent thermoplastic, meaning this plastic moulding material is typically see-through. This makes it an ideal choice in eyeglass lenses, digital disks, greenhouses and even some types of shatter-proof or bulletproof glass, making it one of the strongest plastic. However it&rsquo;s not very scratch resistant, and as such would need to be coated with a harder material during the injection molding process. It also suffers against repeated vibration or stress, so for automotive or aerospace components this injection mold material would not be an ideal choice. <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/need-to-know-about-polycarbonate">Learn more about Polycarbonate here.</a>

<img alt="Polypropylene Image" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/10/08/00/20/chair-2828465_960_720.png" style="height:720px; width:497px" />

<h2><a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/everything-about-polypropylene">Polypropylene (PP)</a></h2>

Polypropylene, otherwise known as PP, is one of the most widely produced plastic moldable materials in the word. Second in fact, only behind that of polyethylene (PE). While PP is similar to PE it is considered slightly harder and more heat-resistant. This injection moulding material is also one of the most versatile too, being resistant to very high temperatures, with incredible elasticity, toughness, and a high chemical and moisture resistance. Since it does not let chemicals mix with food products, this is one of the go-to plastics used in the food storage and packaging industries, created as food containers. It&rsquo;s also commonly found amongst the following: household goods like utensils, automotive parts such as car batteries, buckets, bottle caps, toys and many more. Its downsides are that it is vulnerable to UV radiation and is flammable. <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/everything-about-polypropylene">Learn more about Polypropylene here.</a>

<img alt="Polyethylene Image" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2012/10/09/05/53/bottles-60479_960_720.jpg" style="height:720px; width:960px" />

<h2><a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/everything-about-ldpe-low-density-polyethylene">Polyethylene (PE)</a></h2>

In terms of injection molding plastic materials, polyethylene (PE) is the most popular in the world, accounting for 34% of the total plastics market. There are two types of PE, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). LDPE is made with high pressure and high temperature whereas HDPE is made with low pressure and low temperature. This material is soft, lightweight and flexible and is one of the more affordable options. LDPE is one of the most flexible types on the market and is widely used in packaging. It also possesses high moisture resistance and because of this, a common product example that is produced with this material are plastic grocery bags or disposable plastic water bottles. Where recycling is a core concern, this mold material is one of the best choices to be made. <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/everything-about-ldpe-low-density-polyethylene">Learn more about Polyethylene here.</a>

<img alt="Nylon Image" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2014/11/20/18/45/ski-rope-539600_960_720.jpg" style="height:640px; width:960px" />

<h2><a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/what-is-nylon">Nylon (Polyamide)</a></h2>

Nylon otherwise known as polyamide or PA for short, is used across a wide range of industries, including consumer, industrial, automotive and medical. Known as being strong, stable under high temperatures and chemicals, good wear resistance and electrical properties. It&rsquo;s one of the more stiff, heavier injection molding polymers and in terms of cost it is more expensive than polymers like that of polyethylene or ABS. Some products that it is widely used for include: gears, buckles, bearings and bushings. <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/what-is-nylon">Learn more about Nylon here.</a>

<img alt="Acrylic Image" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2020/02/29/03/22/acrylic-4889029_960_720.jpg" />

<h2><a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/all-about-acrylic">Acrylic</a></h2>

Acrylic is one of those injection moulding plastics that are used regularly to product products such as transparent walls, lighting equipment and windows. Since it is highly scratch resistant and has a high tensile strength it is often used as a good alternative to glass. It also has a number of unique qualities, like the fact that acrylic is both odorless and tasteless and doesn&rsquo;t harmful synthetic compounds not suitable for food storage and preparation, making it a contender for best plastic in this field. This is why you would often find this material in refrigerators and containers for food storage, as well as many beverage applications. On top of this, acrylic is also one of the best plastics for injection molding that are highly resistant to breakage. <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/all-about-acrylic">Learn more about Acrylic here.</a>

<img alt="Polyoxymethylene Image" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2019/03/31/01/03/matador-4092373_960_720.jpg" style="height:685px; width:960px" />

<h2><a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/so-what-is-polyoxymethylene">Polyoxymethylene (POM)</a></h2>

Pokyoxymethylene (POM), also known as acetal or its common brand name of Celcon, is an outstanding thermoplastic that offers great wear, toughness, creep resistance, easy colorization, low moisture absorption amongst many others. This plastic molding material is made from a type of resin used for producing mechanical and automotive parts that are usually made with metal. It is ideal for food and beverage, automotive, household applications and commonly used in the manufacturing of toy parts, along with various gears and bearings. Its weakness however is that it should not be used in high heat environments, and this is one of the injection molded plastics prone to UV degradation. <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/so-what-is-polyoxymethylene">Learn more about Polyoxymethylene here.</a>

<img alt="Polystyrene Image" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/01/11/16/26/vessels-1972235_960_720.jpg" style="height:720px; width:960px" />

<h2><a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/picking-polystyrene">Polystyrene (PS)</a></h2>

Polystyrene or PS is often most recognized as the chief component of Styrofoam, however in its solid form it is a rigid plastic. There are two types of polystyrene that are most commonly used: high impact polystyrene (HIPS) and general purpose polystyrene (GPPS). GPPS is transparent, while HIPS is opague. High impact polystyrene is used in many print applications, like display materials, posters, tags, retail packaging and print applications. It is also used in appliance componenets like TV and AV equipment parts, toys, gas tanks, drinking cups and toolboxes. While these are rather inexpensive, its downsides are that it is not considered environmentally friendly, and it can be notably brittle, making it a poor choice when durability is a concern. <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/picking-polystyrene">Learn more about Polystyrene here.</a>

<img alt="ABS Image" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2014/02/11/18/16/motorbike-264220_960_720.jpg" style="height:640px; width:960px" />

<h2><a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/the-magic-of-abs-plastic">Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)</a></h2>

One of the core plastic injection molding materials used across consumer and automotive industries is acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, commonly known as ABS. This plastic for molding is incredibly cost-effective and possesses a strong rigidity and resistance to breaking or shattering, even against heavy impacts &ndash; which is why it is often used when producing the likes of motorcycle helmets, computers, housing, containers and phones. It is also very lightweight and flexible, making it easily molded into many of the items we use everyday from household items to even the famous Lego brick, making it a great choice for plastics used in injection moulding. However, when it comes to injection mold materials, ABS is not suitable for food use, lacks superior chemical resistance, is flammable and shows poor resistance to sunlight. <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/the-magic-of-abs-plastic">Learn about ABS here.</a>

<img alt="Thermoplastic Rubber Image" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2013/05/31/20/44/sole-115157_960_720.jpg" style="height:720px; width:960px" />

<h2><a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/what-is-thermoplastic-rubber">Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR)</a></h2>

Another injection mold plastic material is thermoplastic rubber (TPR), also known as thermoplastic elastomer, is usually a mixture of both rubber and plastic combined, and is reasonably easy to use during the injection molding process. Since it is a combination of both, this injection molding material exhibits properties of rubber and plastic. Its boasts excellent weather and chemical resistance along with high impact strength, with an added plus of this material being recyclable. This is one of the injection moulding plastic materials which can be found in products such as headphone cables and medical catheters. <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/what-is-thermoplastic-rubber">Learn about TPR here.</a>

<img alt="Thermoplastic Polyurethane Image" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2020/02/03/00/12/fiber-4814456_960_720.jpg" style="height:640px; width:960px" />

<h2><a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/thermoplastic-polyurethane-101">Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU)</a></h2>

The final common plastic injection molding material is thermoplastic polyurethane, known as TPU. It is generally considered resilient, versatile and strong, with a soft and elastic nature, incredible tensile and tear strength, making it the right choice for those who are looking for parts which require a rubber-like elasticity. TPU performs well in high termperatures, is a popular choice in difficult working environments and used across many products, like: cables, insulations, sporting goods, power tools, along with this molding plastic used in both marine and construction industries. <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/thermoplastic-polyurethane-101">Learn about TPU here.</a>

<h2>What Material Is Right For Me?</h2>

We hope you have found this brief overview on plastic for injection molding to be helpful, and that you have gained a little more insight as to which injection molding plastic types are useful and best suited to your needs. While this is only a small section of possible injection moulding materials, please note that we can work with you on a much wider variety of materials specifically tailored to suit your unique projects.

Take a look at our other <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/custom-injection-molding" target="_blank">blog post on custom injection molding</a>, or if you are ready to collaborate with us, <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact" target="_blank">contact us</a> today and request a free quote!

See the ten best plastic injection molding materials. What's the strongest plastic for injection molding? When it comes to injection molding plastics, who wins?

Let's take a look at 10 of the best plastic injection molding materials.

The Ten Best Plastic Injection Molding Materials

<h1>Injection Molding Vs 3D Printing</h1>

Without proper understanding you might wonder are 3D printing and injection molding the same? But they are not. While they are both used for producing plastic parts they are done in completely different ways. The aim of this post is to explain how they are different and answer questions like, &ldquo;Is 3D printing quality equal to injection molding?&rdquo;, or &ldquo;Which is cheaper injection molding or 3D printing?&rdquo; or even, &ldquo;Is 3D printing more accurate than injection molding?&rdquo;. Perhaps it&rsquo;s that you need a better understanding of both 3D printing and injection molding in order to choose which is best for you and your product and, going forward, use this information and knowledge to help reach a decision as to which you should choose. That&rsquo;s what we will be learning in the following article. What they are, how they can help us, but most importantly, weighing up their pros and cons to determine which is best for you when it comes to injection molding vs 3D printing.

Let&rsquo;s start with a brief explanation of what they are, and what they can do.

<h2>What Is Injection Molding</h2>

Injection molding, or plastic injection molding involves a process of making use of molds &ndash; often either steel or aluminium. This mold is carved out into the shape of whatever product you ultimately want to design and then it is injected with molten plastic. Once the molten plastic has cooled the mold is then opened and the process is completed. For more information on injection molding, check out our blog page on custom injection molding <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/custom-injection-molding" target="_blank">right here</a>.

<h2>What Is 3D Printing</h2>

3D printing on the other hand uses what&rsquo;s known as an additive process. This means that the object is created layer by layer, stacked on top of each other. Because of this process, unlike injection molding there is no mold unit that is required, since nothing needs to be injected into it. The 3D printer simply needs a CAD file (computer aided design) which the machine then loads and starts the building process.

Below you can see both a product and mold that was developed right here at Shineyuu.

<img alt="Product and mold image" src="https://shineyuu-mold.com/assets/images/prod_and_mold.jpg" />

<h2>3D Printing Vs Injection Molding Price</h2>

One of the most important aspects when comparing the two are 3D printing vs injection molding cost. But first, it&rsquo;s important to understand where those costs come into play. For example, what kind of business or supply are you looking to manufacture for? How many of the products do you expect to produce? One, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands or even millions? This is a critical question to ask when considering an injection molding 3D printing cost comparison.

So what&rsquo;s cheaper injection molding vs 3D printing? 3D printing has an extremely low cost to entry. A desktop computer and the supply of materials needed to print are vastly cheaper than the equipment needed for injection molding. The machines of an injection mold can cover tens to even hundreds of thousands. Not to mention the price of the mold itself. The distinct difference however is that 3D printing can be designed for a hobby, whereas injection molding is designed for an industry. Not to mention that the costs of an injection molding machine are offset by manufacturing companies which build the product that you are looking to create, <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact" target="_blank">like us here at Shineyuu</a>.

Depending on the number of the same product being built, 3D printing, while also more preferable in smaller numbers becomes increasingly more expensive in larger volumes. This makes 3D printing ideal for something like low-cost prototyping, but inefficient for mass production. This is where injection molding shines in prices, as the same mold can be used even up to millions of times over, and the product still retains its uniform design.

So in summary, 3D printing cost vs injection molding price which is better? Generally 3D printing is a solid go-to for prototyping low volume of parts, whereas injection molding is better for mass production.

<h2>3D Printing Vs Injection Molding Strength</h2>

Let&rsquo;s look at 3D printing vs injection molding strength. What is best to choose when it you have to consider the strength of an item, 3D printing or injection molding? When to comes to a completed products&rsquo; strength the hands down winner for a physical product is that of injection molding. The reason for this is because objects made through injection molding consist of a single poured layer, which adds overall strength to the shape since there are no fissures or points of weakness. This is contested when it comes to 3D printing however, since it is built layer upon layer, leaving possible room for errors, unless the 3D printing is modified or diluted. So when asking mechanical strength of 3D printing vs injection molding, there is one significant choice.

<h2>3D Printing Vs Injection Molding Speed</h2>

We must also examine speed of 3D printing vs injection molding. When it comes to injection molds, depending on the plastics used, these molded products can set within a matter of seconds. As well as this, most plastic injection molds can hold multiple pieces, which also multiplies the speed of production time. When you combine this with the fact that injection molding is automated in nature, manufacturers like us can create hundreds of thousands of pieces a day and have products shipped and ready in no time. 3D printing builds layer by layer, and is most effective when orders amount to numbers in their hundreds or less.

Here is an image of our rapid tooling and injection molding factory:

<img alt="Shineyuu factory image" src="https://shineyuu-mold.com/assets/images/factory_image1.jpg" style="height:4768px; width:4768px" />

<h2>3D Printing Vs Injection Molding Quality</h2>

When looking at 3D printing vs injection molding another important aspect is its quality. Injection molding allows intricate designs to be brought to life with extreme precision, since every millimetre of a mold is filled. This prevents things like segmentation or air bubbles and other critical design flaws, since injection molding is completed with seems or assembly required. So the surface on the product, otherwise known as finishing surface, remains smooth. This when compared to 3D printing is one of the most significant differences between the two, as 3D printing is at an extreme disadvantage. The quality of a 3D printed product can often be unattractive in appearance. 3D printing can leave visible ridges from its layers and other structural faults during its manufacturing, which wouldn&rsquo;t be found with plastic injection molding. When looking at 3D printing injection molding complex parts, both are capable of doing a good job, however for 3D printing those ridges may remain.

<h2>Advantages of 3D Printing</h2>

Let&rsquo;s look at why 3D printing is superior to injection molding, by going through some of its key advantages.

Flexibility: 3D printing is excellent for making iteration upon iteration. When you compare this with injection molding, making dramatic changes can be quite costly since it would involve creating an entirely new mold to start the process all over again. This is not the case with 3D printing. You can pause a construction even mid process in order to make design changes, you do not need to start the production run from the beginning all over again.

Low Cost: A 3D printer and the materials needed to produce a product is vastly cheaper than an injection molding machine and the mold required to build the product. This fact makes 3D printing something anyone can get into from hobbyists to small businesses looking to experiment. Is injection molding cheaper than 3D printing? Yes, but only at larger volumes.

This cool skull was made via 3D printing:

<img alt="3D skull image" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1518732714860-b62714ce0c59?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=750&amp;q=80" style="height:500px; width:750px" />

<h2>Advantages of Injection Molding</h2>

We&rsquo;ve looked at some of the advantages of 3D printing, now let&rsquo;s take a look at some of the benefits of injection molding:

Product quality: We&rsquo;ve already discussed the advantages of injection molding when comparing the two, but it seems on speed, strength and overall quality injection molding cannot be beaten. When people wonder will 3D printing replace injection molding, maybe one day in the far-flung future, but for now these reasons are why injection molding remains the manufacturing industries standard.

Low Unit Costs: Once an injection mold is made, the process of reproducing a prototype is fairly simple. The same part can be reproced hundreds of thousands to even millions of times and the parts will retain the same kinds of uniformity throughout. This method is also far more cost-effective in higher production sizes, as they see lower per-unit expenses.&nbsp;

Here is a large mold built right here at Shineyuu, ready for producing parts:

<img alt="Large injection molding part" src="https://shineyuu-mold.com/assets/images/large_mold.jpg" />

<h2>Disadvantages of Both</h2>

So we looked at the strength of 3D printing vs injection molding, but what about their weaknesses? Completely opposite to their advantages, let&rsquo;s take a brief look at their disadvantages.

Injection molding can be seen as inflexible, considering how timely and expensive it is to recreate a mold and also needing to restart a product&rsquo;s design and scratch when changes need to be made. It&rsquo;s also more expensive when comparing the two.

3D printing products are not as impressive on a quality level when compared to that of injection molding, and when it comes to pricing for larger volume parts, such as in the thousands ranging to millions it is also considered more expensive. Is industrial 3D printing faster than injection molding? No. Will 3D printing replace injection molding? Maybe one day, but for now it is still preferable to create parts in lower numbers.

Here an employee at Shineyuu fits and checks an injection mold:

<img alt="Fitting and checking" src="https://shineyuu-mold.com/assets/images/fitcheck.jpg" />

<h2>When To Use 3D Printing &amp; Injection Molding</h2>

So here is a brief summary of the things we have learned and covered in this article about 3D printing injection molding.

When it comes to 3D printing materials vs injection molding strength, we had found that since injection molding is made in one continuous piece there are no fissures or points of weakness, making injection molding the stronger choice. As we looked at 3D printing vs injection molding quality we uncovered the fact that injection molding gives a clean, polished and smooth surface finish whereas 3D printing has visible ridges an may contain structural faults. If wondering is 3D printing faster than injection molding, we looked at the fact that injection molding is built for automation at its core, and that a single mold can create multiple pieces at the same time which can significantly speed up production.

However, when looking at injection molding vs 3D printing cost at lower volume parts, such as for prototype building, we found that the price difference between a piece in 3D printing and injection molding leans in favour of 3D printing. This is because the price of the materials and machine cost less than that of an injection molding machine and mold. So when is 3D printing more expensive than injection molding? At higher volumes, since injection molding is made for mass production. This means at higher numbers injection molding is the way to go, from thousands of product parts and upwards.

Some have suggested that they can also be used together, so exactly how 3D printing and injection-molding can work in tandem? One key possibility is 3D printed molds for injection molding. If the part has high temperature resistance, 3D printing can actually be a viable source of 3D printed molds for injection molding or can even be used as an injection molding prototype with 3D printing. One can also consider a 3D printing injection molding tool, and since traditional molding tools are often made with aluminium or steel this may be a cheaper pricing point and injection molding 3D printing may become more commonplace in the future.

<h2>Conclusion</h2>

I hope you&rsquo;ve found this article to be useful, and that you have learned the difference between injection molding and 3D printing, along with their unique advantages and flaws with injection molding vs 3D printing. The comparison for 3D printing vs injection molding is one that may become ever similar in the future, but for now they have their own key advantages and best times for use. And any question like when to switch from 3D printing to injection molding, should become clear when you look at the volumes needed from a humble hobby to a full-scale production. There are still some other key factors we should look towards in the future, such as environmental issues like carbon emissions 3D printing vs injection molding, but they are for another time.

So who wins when we compare Injection Molding Vs 3D Printing? Let's look at their costs, speed, strength and quality and see who's the right choice!

Who's the top dog when it comes to injection molding vs 3D printing? Let's take a look.

3D printing

Injection Molding Vs 3D Printing

<h1>Custom Injection Molding</h1>

Custom injection molding involves the process of injecting materials that are molten by heat into a molding tool to produce parts. The materials and produced parts are generally plastic, and are used in many product industries. It is a core manufacturing technology for the mass-production of identical parts.

For example, a custom injection mold which can be seen in the image below, is a specifically made part usually made from steel, aluminium or other metal alloys and is a critical part of the custom injection molding process.
<img alt="Image of production mold" src="https://shineyuu-mold.com/assets/images/prod_mold2.jpg" style="height:392px; width:600px" />
A custom plastic injection molding definition would be similar, with custom plastic injection molding, these molds can produce thousands of plastic parts over the course of its lifetime.

The key understanding of custom injection molding is just how exact custom injection molding specifications need to be. It&rsquo;s vital that an injection molder understands and aligns with the needs of your product, since parts that are used in certain fields &ndash; like medical or military &ndash; vary greatly when compared to foods containers or toys. This demands attention from professionals who are truly well versed in complex designs and compliance from a custom plastic injection molding company must be strictly adhered to.

<h2>What Is The Custom Injection Molding Process?</h2>

When it comes to injection molding custom, there is generally three significant steps in the process: they involve product design, mold design and the manufacturing process.

The design process also happens to be one of the most important processes, since it is a great early opportunity to prevent any expensive mistakes from happening later. Function, assembly, manufacturability and aesthetics all play an important key role in determining the product design process and the right design is one that accomplishes your objectives to a satisfactory level. The product design stage is usually accomplished with a CAD software, which stands for computer aided design. In order to engineer custom injection molding, skilled engineers will brainstorm, design and improve a variety of issues surrounding the particular product at this stage.

See below for an image of a product during its design process on CAD software:
<img alt="Product technical drawing" src="https://shineyuu-mold.com/assets/images/3d_model1.bmp" style="height:400px; width:344px" />
Once an image has been designed, the next step is to design the mold for injection mold manufacturing. Generally the mold is made of steel, aluminium or other metal alloys. Mold design, similar to product design, is another great opportunity to prevent any defects during the custom injection molding process.

This is an image of a mold being developed during its design stage:
<img alt="" src="https://shineyuu-mold.com/assets/images/prod_mold1.jpg" style="height:643px; width:553px" />
The final stage is the manufacturing process. Once a product has been designed, approved by the team and cast, it&rsquo;s time for the actual manufacturing. This is when the custom injection molding plastic is heated and poured into the plastic injection mold, by way of a custom injection molding machine. Once cooled the mold is opened and the part ejected. Any excess is sheared off automatically and manually removed. This cycle can repeat, even hundreds of thousands of times in only just a short space of time.

For such a complex process the whole undertaking is both impressive and swift. It&rsquo;s no wonder such a thing is the go-to for creating custom injection molding parts.

<h2>How Much Does Custom Injection Molding Cost?</h2>

That depends. I&rsquo;m sure that&rsquo;s not a very satisfying answer but really, it&rsquo;s possible you&rsquo;ve seen plenty of custom injection molding services from many custom injection molding companies and they all say the same thing, &ldquo;Request a quote&rdquo;. Why? Because there&rsquo;s no one size fits all philosophy in the way of a custom injection molding cost. There are too many variables, such as the size of the product, its material, the material of the mold itself (for example a steel mold is more expensive but can make significantly more parts than an aluminium one), how many parts do you want to make, how detailed or simple is the design. What about the location of the manufacturer? They too, will expect different price points. With all these variables and much more, is there any surprise the company would like to know more details about your product first in order to better accommodate you and your needs?

Below are some detailed custom plastic injection molded parts made right here at Shineyuu:
 <img alt="" src="https://shineyuu-mold.com/assets/images/detailedplasticparts.jpg" style="height:375px; width:500px" />
<h2>What Custom Injection Molding Companies Are Right For Me?</h2>

When it comes to custom injection molding manufacturers, choosing the right company is paramount. In order to do so, it helps by understanding what it is you want from the company. Is it quality? Price? Speed? Perhaps a combination of all three. Since Shineyuu is a Chinese custom injection molding company, we beat our competitors on price. Deliver our products from as little as 3 days (depending on design of course) and our quality is unparalleled when it comes to offering a premium custom injection molding service.

In order to quote custom injection molding projects, simply <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/contact">send us an email</a> and we can go from there.

<h2>How Shineyuu Does Custom Injection Molding</h2>

Custom injection molding can be difficult, and getting the perfect injection mold can feel like an overwhelming task with so much choice on the market &ndash; especially considering the complexity of your product and its strict specifications. That is why at Shineyuu we can help ease those concerns. With our exceptional reputation and many years in the industry, we are a leading custom injection molding company and can provide you with a premium custom injection molding service. Regardless of the industry you are in, be it automotive, electronic or a consumer product industry, we can meet your needs for an accurate accurate custom injection molding!

If you enjoyed this article make sure you check out some of the others we have got available, such as <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/the-5-types-of-plastic-molding">5 Types of Plastic Molding</a>, <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/all-about-overmolding">All About Overmolding</a> and <a href="https://www.shineyuu-mold.com/blog/injection-mold-china">Should I Choose Injection Mold in China</a>.

Custom injection molding is something that we here at Shineyuu do, but what exactly is it? What sorts of processes can we expect? Let’s take a look.

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