Plastic Part Design Influencing Plastic Injection Mold Costs

plastic part design for plastic injection molds

If you’re exploring plastic injection mold prices, we’ve put together key advice to guide you on minimizing injection molding expenses. At Seren Plastik, we invite you to view our plastic part design showcase. We’re here to assist, providing insights into every aspect of plastic injection product design.

Minimizing Reverse Angles (Undercuts) in Plastic Part Design for Cost-Effective Injection Molding

Keeping your plastic injection product design straightforward and efficient can lead to notable reductions in mold manufacturing costs and faster injection molding production cycle. One effective way is by minimizing undercuts during the design phase of plastic parts. This can greatly influence plastic injection mold prices in your favor. At Seren Plastik, we offer guidance to enhance your design. An optimized design equates to reduced production expenditures.

Plastic part design undercut
Plastic part design undercut

Undercuts in plastic components introduce geometric complexities that hinder the easy ejection from plastic injection molds. Such designs often necessitate movable mechanisms within the plastic injection mold, subsequently driving up mold costs and extending tooling durations. Furthermore, these undercuts can also prolong the injection molding production cycle, leading to higher production costs per individual plastic component.

The Role of Moving Mechanisms in Plastic Mold Designs

Sliders in Injection Molding

When the injection molding process for a plastic component needs movement that’s perpendicular to the mold’s opening and closing actions, it’s essential to incorporate cores. These cores can operate with various mechanisms within plastic injection molds, such as springs, columns, pneumatic, or hydraulic systems.

Plastic injection mold slider-1
Plastic injection mold slider

Sliding Cores (Lifters) in Injection Molding

In plastic injection molds, lifters come into play when a recess (referred to as a “nail”) is present on the inner wall of the plastic component. The steel socket, which constitutes the mold core, moves in a 5–7-degree angle relative to the mold’s action, distancing itself at a specified point. This process ensures the tab inside the plastic injection mold is disengaged from the mold steel.

Cost-Saving Design Tip: For a plastic component with a claw, consider this design modification to enhance plastic injection mold affordability:

Ejecting undercuts from plastic injection mold via lifter
Ejecting undercuts in injection mold via lifter

How Radius Corners Influence Plastic Injection Mold Costs

A notable design element that can be advantageous for plastic injection mold prices is incorporating radius corners. But how exactly do radius corners play a role in determining injection molding costs?

Radius corners on plastic part design
Radius corners on plastic part design

Opting for larger radius corners in plastic part design presents a win-win situation for both quality and cost. How?

  1. Waste Reduction and Strength: Large radius corners promote a more uniform distribution of material within the mold, translating to fewer defects. This means savings on material costs.
  2. Economic Impact: Such radii have a direct, positive influence on plastic injection mold prices. A stronger mold, courtesy of the radius corners, means prolonged mold lifespan. This longevity translates to consistent quality and further savings in injection molding production.
  3. Simplifying Manufacturing: Sharp corners in mold interiors often necessitate erosion etching during mold manufacturing. This method both raises mold production costs and extends delivery times.

In conclusion, if you’re aiming to strike a balance between quality and cost, integrating radius corners in your plastic part design can be a strategic move to achieve optimized plastic injection mold prices.

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