Rapid injection molding is the technique of creating prototype, bridging, and short production run injection molds in a shorter time and at a lower cost than full production molds. Injection molds for long manufacturing runs are often exceedingly expensive and time-consuming. Read More…
Leading Manufacturers
LTM Plastics
Denver, CO | 303-592-9548For 50 years, LTM Plastics has been a leading manufacturer of injection molded plastics. When working with LTM Plastics, our customers can be assured that they are getting high quality products at a competitive price. We pride ourselves on our team’s communication and collaboration with our customers to meet their needs.
MSI Mold
Imlay, MI | 248-275-1978If you are in need of injection molded plastic parts that are of consistent quality, look no further than MSI Mold! We have over 30 years of experience in design, production, and tooling of custom plastic parts.
GSH Industries, Inc.
Cleveland, OH | 440-238-3009You won’t find better quality injection molded plastics anywhere else in the industry. We have built ourselves up from a small manufacturing company to a large company with decades of experience.
Britech Industries
Stuart, FL | 772-286-9278We may have started small, but today, we offer our products and services to companies around the world. We are dedicated to our customers, and our goal is to offer better service and pricing to any customer no matter the size.
Hi-Rel Plastics & Molding
Riverside, CA | 951-354-0258At R.M.Tool, we provide custom CNC Machining to help our customers solve some of their toughest machining needs. Our state-of-the-art CNC machining department is equipped with Milling, Turning and Wire EDM Machining Centers. We can process materials such as Steel, Stainless, Aluminum, and other Exotic Materials. We strive to always please our customers by always delivering quality products. From design to finished product, R.M.Tool is your one stop shop for all of your CNC machining needs.
Molded Devices, Inc.
Tempe, AZ | 951-509-6918Call Molded Devices for a fast, competitive quote on plastic molding, plastic injection molding, and medical injection molding services. A wide range of standard & proprietary caps, covers & containers plus custom components for all your needs. We are your one-stop for design consult, quick prototyping, custom formulations & secondary operations!
Valencia Plastics
Valencia, CA | 844-574-2040Valencia Plastics is your leading full-service injection molded plastics manufacturer. Our products are made with various materials, including urethane, polyurethane, nylon, acrylic, and polycarbonate. We offer a wide range of sizes from miniature items up to 7 lbs. large parts. We are ISO 9001:2015 compliant. Industries we serve include electrical, military, automotive, aerospace, and agricultural.
What is Rapid Injection Molding?
In cases where fast-tracking and early cost control are required, economic and quick rapid injection molding techniques can yield molds that are better suited to low-volume production runs. Engineers employ what's known as "rapid injection molding" when they need to make parts fast.
Rapid injection molded components are used to create prototype parts for design analysis. While valuable in that regard, quick injection molded components are often not used as a finished product; instead, they might be used as a bridge to production, producing parts for production while the genuine production mold is being created.
Rapid injection molding is thus more of a research and development process than a core production method.
Rapid Injection Molding Process
The overall method of rapid injection molding is very similar to that of normal injection molding; it is merely a speedier approach to the process in order to have a prototype dispatched sooner.
The method still involves pumping molten plastic into a mold designed to fit the final product, then allowing it to cool, harden, and adopt the shape of the mold. Following the hardening and removal of the material from the mold, the product undergoes several secondary finishing operations to verify that all customer requirements are met.
Because of their versatility and numerous physical qualities, thermoplastics are among the most often used materials in injection molding. As a result, they can be used in a wide range of industrial applications.
As previously mentioned, the mold is designed with the ultimate product in mind, so it is critical that the customer receives a prototype as soon as possible to guarantee that the final product meets their expectations.
Considerations When Performing RIM
Core Geometry
Thick walls are removed by coring out portions. A well-molded item performs the same functions. Unnecessary thickness can change the proportions of a product, impair its strength, and need post-process machining.
Drafted Walls
As much as feasible, draft (slope the vertical walls) to make it easier to expel pieces without drag marks or ejector punch marks. Drafting allows designers to build deeper features when milling deep walls and avoids tool clatter and cosmetic faults. Use 1 degree of draft or more if space allows, and use 2 degrees or greater on core-cavity designs. A rough rule of thumb is one degree of draft for each of the first two inches of depth. From 2 to 4 inches in depth, either a 3-degree draft or a minimum thickness of 1/8 inch may be necessary.
Core-Cavity
Instead of ribs, utilize core-cavity while drafting. Rather than having walls with a thick base, it gives consistent wall thicknesses. It also enables machine shops to grind molds with a better surface polish and provide higher-quality products more quickly.
Side-Actions
On the outside of a part, side-actions create undercuts. The undercuts must be on the parting line or related to it. They must also be in the same plane as the parting line and perpendicular to the mold's opening direction.
Steel Core Pins
Steel core pins can be used to make these holes in the mold. Steel pins are robust enough to withstand the stress of ejection while also being smooth enough to release the part cleanly and without draft. There should be no cosmetic influence on the finished product; if there is, it will be hidden inside the hole.
Advantages of Rapid Injection Molding
Fast processing: Because prototype tooling produces rapid results, the time between development and production is kept to a minimum.
Advanced mold customization: This is possible because of the quick tooling process.
Proof of concept/testing: Rapid prototyping makes it easier to do real-world design testing and debugging. It also permits the manufacturing of new tooling that incorporates design modifications and upgrades in a timely and exact manner.
Faster time to market: Fast manufacturing and precise tooling contribute to production efficiency, allowing for a faster time to market than alternative approaches.
Competitive pricing: The quick tooling process' affordability significantly influences and benefits the clients' bottom line.
Choosing the Correct Rapid Injection Molding Company
To make sure you have the most constructive outcome when purchasing Rapid Injection Molding from a Rapid Injection Molding Company, it is important to compare at least 5 Companies using our Rapid Injection Molding directory. Each Rapid Injection Molding Company has a business profile page that highlights their areas of experience and capabilities and a contact form to directly communicate with the manufacturer for more information or request a quote. Review each Rapid Injection Molding company website using our patented website previewer to get an idea of what each business specializes in, and then use our simple RFQ form to contact multiple Rapid Injection Molding companies with the same quote.
