Understanding Plastic Shrink Rates in Injection Molding Injection molding is a popular process, used to create plastic parts and products. It involves injecting molten plastic into a mold and allowing it to cool and solidify, which results in the final product. There are many considerations that go into injection molding, and an often overlooked factor is plastic shrink rates. Here, we’ll delve into the concept of plastic shrink rates and explore why they matter. Plastic Shrink Rates, Explained Plastic shrink rates — also known as shrinkage — refer to the reduction in size or dimensions of a p ..read more

In injection molding, the molten plastic enters the mold cavity through a gate. While this process may sound simple, it is quite complex. There are many types of gates, and the placement is crucial to ensure a quality product can be manufactured. In this post, we uncover the importance of gate placement and dive into the types of gates that are most often used. What is a Gate? In injection molding, the mold cavity is filled with molten plastic. It doesn’t happen directly, like filling a balloon with a faucet. To create a controlled and even distribution, the nozzle feeds molten plastic into a ..read more

Having an expectation that your manufacturing partner is injection molding products that meet your requirements is not unreasonable. Providing quality products should be a given for every injection molder. Unfortunately, many companies are disappointed when their products don’t meet minimum requirements. The cost of inferior quality can be high. At SEA-LECT Plastics, our rigorous quality control system and ISO 9001:2015 certification ensure our solutions meet your exact specifications every time. Quality Defined Quality is often misunderstood. It is either misconstrued as absolute perfection o ..read more

Exploring the Different Types of Injection Molds Are you looking to create an injection-molded product? Knowing the general types of injection molds can help you make an informed decision about your business. We’re breaking down each type of injection mold, helping you understand what’s right for your operation. Types of Injection Molds Hot Runner Hot runner molds are designed to maintain the molten plastic at an elevated temperature as it flows through the mold. These molds offer advantages such as reduced material waste, faster cycle times, and decreased production costs associated with recy ..read more

Understanding Multi-Material Injection Molding Are you looking to create a plastic part using multiple materials? Multi-material injection molding is the answer. This process allows businesses to achieve complex designs by combining multiple materials in a single injection molding process. Often, businesses will combine materials with different physical properties — such as rigid and flexible plastics or materials of multiple colors — to make intricate and innovative products. Designers use this process to push the boundaries of traditional injection molding, creating products that were previo ..read more

The quality and precision of an injection molded part rely heavily on the part design and the quality of the mold. A well-designed part, made in a subpar mold, will produce a part that won’t consistently meet quality specifications, if at all. Conversely, a well-designed part in a well-maintained, quality mold will continuously deliver parts that meet or exceed expectations. Below we break it down, explaining all the parts of an injection mold. The Many Parts of an Injection Mold The mold is where the part is formed in the injection molding process. The complexity of the mold will depend on th ..read more

Bio resin, also called bioplastics, are making a big splash across industries as consumers and businesses alike are looking for ways to be kinder to our planet. While plastics, in general, can contribute to this cause – by reducing weight to increase fuel efficiency, providing barriers to food to reduce waste, using less energy to manufacture compared to other materials, and being used for components in renewable energy systems – bio-resins and biocomposites can go even further. Compared to traditional plastics, bio-resins and biocomposites have a lower carbon footprint, can be compatible with ..read more

What is a Mold Transfer? A mold transfer is the process of moving an injection mold from one location to another. Usually, this process occurs when a business chooses to switch from one injection molding company to another. Mold transfers are delicate processes that require careful planning and coordination to ensure that the mold is transported safely and securely. The last thing you want is for your mold to be damaged during the transportation process and take even more production time off your schedule! Here, we’ll discuss some of the key considerations involved in mold transfers and provid ..read more

Insert molding, widely used by the automotive, electronics, medical, industrial, and consumer goods industries, is a robust and efficient process for encapsulating a metal (or other material) component into a plastic injection molded part. Inserts vary widely depending on the application, but one common application is a female threaded insert that creates a strong attachment point for a part, such as a handle or a knob. Other inserts include hardware, components, like scalpels or contact plugs, or a custom stamped or machined component. Understanding the process and design considerations will ..read more

The use of plastics in the pharmaceutical industry is broad. It ranges from the equipment and tools used in manufacturing and testing to pharmaceutical delivery systems, such as inhalers and syringes, to packaging. Engineering plastics for pharmaceuticals is the preferred choice for applications requiring a robust solution. What are Engineering Plastics for Pharmaceuticals? In general, injection-molded plastics offer numerous benefits to the pharmaceutical industry, including cost advantages, precision tolerances, and application flexibility. However, engineering plastics are used across indus ..read more