injection molding
Mass-producing plastic parts
Injection molding is a manufacturing process where molten material—typically plastic—is forced into a mold cavity under pressure, then cooled to form a solid part.
The technique produces identical pieces in high volume: toys, bottle caps, car dashboards, phone cases.
The factory uses injection molding to produce thousands of components per hour.
Empty space within
- coreCentral essential portion
- runnerOne who sprints
- gateHinged barrier in fence
- sprueMold's inlet channel
parting line · vent · undercut · lifters · slides · inserts · two-shot · texture
Heat-softenable, repeatedly reshapable polymer
- polypropyleneVersatile thermoplastic resin
- polyethyleneThermoplastic from ethylene gas
- polystyreneLightweight synthetic foam plastic
- absDistance from zero
polycarbonate · nylon · resin · pellets · granules · polymer · polyurethane · acrylic
Adding pliability to materials
- fillingMaterial placed within
- packingPutting items in containers
- coolingLosing thermal energy
- clampingFixing firmly with pressure
metering · shrinkage · warpage · flash · burn marks · venting · trimming
Hooped cylindrical vessel
- screwThreaded metal fastener
- nozzleFlow-directing pipe fitting
- hopperTapered dispensing container
- platenPrinting press surface
tie bars · hydraulic · toggle · servo · tonnage · cycle time · dwell · pack
Willingness to accept difference
- dimensionalRelating to measurable extent
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
- micrometerMillionth of a meter
- repeatabilityCapacity for consistent duplication
gauging · measurement · specifications · quality control · inspection · metrology · flatness · sampling
cavity
Empty space within
sprue · parting line · vent · undercut · lifters · slides · inserts · two-shot · texture · polish
thermoplastic
Heat-softenable, repeatedly reshapable polymer
- polypropyleneVersatile thermoplastic resin
- polyethyleneThermoplastic from ethylene gas
- polystyreneLightweight synthetic foam plastic
abs · polycarbonate · nylon · resin · pellets · granules · polymer · polyurethane · acrylic · peek
plasticizing
Adding pliability to materials
clamping · metering · shrinkage · warpage · flash · burn marks · venting · trimming
barrel
Hooped cylindrical vessel
platen · tie bars · hydraulic · toggle · servo · tonnage · cycle time · dwell · pack · back pressure
tolerance
Willingness to accept difference
- dimensionalRelating to measurable extent
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
- micrometerMillionth of a meter
repeatability · gauging · measurement · specifications · quality control · inspection · metrology · flatness · sampling
- industryfactories, factory, automotive, manufacturing plant, manufacturing plants
- shapingfolding, sculpting, forming, curving, morphing
- industrial designfurniture design, chair design, automotive design, car design, lighting design
- shoemakingcobbler, cordwainer, cobbling, last, shoe lasts
- machine operationsdrilling, milling, grinding, pressing, stamping
- nylonnylon, nylon stockings, polyamide, ripstop, tent fabric
injection molding3D printing
Creating objects by depositing layers
handcrafting · hand carving · extrusion · thermoforming · casting
injection moldingcarving
Shaping by cutting away
machining · milling · woodworking · chiseling · turning
injection moldinghandcrafted
Made manually, not machined
handmade · artisanal · bespoke · one-of-a-kind · hand-built
mold, inject, molding, molded, injection, ejection, molder, ejected, injected