Injection Molding Runner Design in China

The Advantages Of Good Runner Designs To Help Injection Molding

The plastic injection molding process in China is possible because any thermoplastic material can be melted to a predetermined size and the Injection molding machinery is designed such that it can then be injected into a mold or cavity where it can be formed. The parts of the mold which are in the shape of the parts to be manufactured are the cavities. The formed part is then ejected from the injection mold.

The sprue is a part of the runner which injects molten liquid plastic material into the die or Chinese mold through the injection machine’s nozzle. The runner system, as well as the sprue, is the passage that connects the nozzle of the machine to the mold cavities. Runner connects the sprue with the cavity through the gate.  The nozzle of the machine is connected to the runner by the sprue and come in designs of hot sprue or cold sprue.

Injection Molding Runner Design in China
Injection Molding Runner Design in China

The Injection molding runner design comes in three basic types – hot runner, insulated runner, and cold runner. The runner has to ensure that the liquid material is distributed so that it fills all the China molds under the same conditions and the same pressure at the same time. This will help to prevent flashing of the china injection mold and also helps in producing parts of a uniform and improved quality. Hot runner technology, which is externally heated is more practical and feasible since the plastic is maintained in a liquid state and most China mold makers use this technology.

The usage of hot runners in injection molding machinery is useful since it ensures better quality parts. They are particularly beneficial with uneven-shaped parts which might result in improper cooling or uneven flow. Hot runners also help in reducing plastic wastage.  They are designed to reduce cycle time, thus helping to maximize manufacturing productivity. The challenge in design is to maintain the liquid plastic which is molten at an optimum temperature while the china injection mold cavity is being cooled at the same time. Internal as well as external heating methods are used generally in injection molding machinery. Thus the hot runner technology, which was introduced almost 50 years before in the plastic industry, has revolutionized the china plastic injection molding technology and its processing capabilities by enhancing the efficiency of operation, improving the quality of the parts, reducing wastage and scrap and thus in effect saving money.

A very critical consideration for injection molding runner design as well as the china injection molding process is to maintain a uniform temperature in the hot-runner manifold and the sprue bar so as to ensure consistency in quality. Another consideration to be taken by China mold manufacturers is regarding the runner system. The injection mold china cavities will not be filled properly if the runner is too small. If the runner is too large, then cooling time will be increased and the cycle time will be decreased. Proper design for runners for injection molding china is most essential to reduce the effect of sink, stress, and weld marks.

A good and efficient runner design is most essential for plastic injection molding machinery as it helps in producing better quality parts at a very reasonable and affordable rate due to higher efficiency and lower wastage. Currently there are many suppliers who provide injection molding systems from China at very good quality.

Resource box: This article is originally posted in https://www.injectionmouldchina.com.

Banana Gate Injection Molding in China

Key points to Banana Gate Injection Molding

Manufacturing is a simple business of making goods by hand or by a machine. Once the goods are made, they are sold to a customer. There are several different types of manufacturing processes in this world. China Injection Molding is one of them.

Banana Gate Injection Molding in China
Banana Gate Injection Molding in China

 

What is Injection Molding & an Injection Molding Machine?

Injection Molding is one of the most commonly used manufacturing procedures for the production of plastic parts. As it is used for the molding of plastic, it is also known as plastic injection molding. Different types of products are produced using an injection molding technique – plastic trinkets, automotive parts, toys, mobile cases, bottles & containers.  Injection molding is done with the help of an injection molding machine, raw materials & mold. This process consists of 3 valuable steps – designing of product, designing of mold & the manufacturing process. The injection molding machinery uses a melt, inject, cool & pack procedure by converting granules of raw plastic into final molds.

Injection mold design is an important factor in the China plastic injection molding machine & each injection design consists of a gate to allow the melted plastic flow to be injected into the cavity of the Chinese mold. Different issues may arise if the wrong scale of the gate is chosen like uncompleted filling, molding shrinkage & excessive residual stress. There are two types of gates for injection molding machines-one is manually trimmed & the other one is an automatically trimmed gate. Under these two categories, there are 9 different gates called Direct Spruce Gate, Side Gate, Fan Gate, Pinpoint Gate, Disk Gate, Rin Gate, Film Gate, Tab Gate & Submarine Gate. Depending on the part of the design, the gate can be small or large. The location of the gate is also important in the manufacturing process as it decides how the plastic will enter & form into a mold.

China is one of the major producers of plastic injection molding. China mold makers have made notable progress in the last few years in the business of China injection molding. Companies from around the world come to this country with the wrong expectations of purchasing cheap China mold. To avoid delivery fraud, it is better to look for manufacturers around your location. This will also save delivery time.

Banana Gate Injection Molding

This type of molding machine uses the banana gate for its production. The banana gate is similar to the tunnel or submarine gate & it is curved like a banana. This is a new type of gate which is quite trendy in the China plastic injection molding machines. These gates are very useful as they do not leave any marks on the plastic surface. Because of its magnificent curvy shape, it can reach below the part & allows the plastic to be injected into the secluded area of the part. Banana gate injection molding is normally used for ABS & HIPS materials. If these types of gates are not properly designed, then the machine can break easily.

China injection molding is a standard process for manufacturing plastic involving raw materials & molds. It is one of the most cost-efficient manufacturing processes. Injection mold machinery is capable of producing high volumes of high-quality plastic.

Resource box: This article is originally posted in https://www.injectionmouldchina.com.

injection molding defects

How to eliminate injection molding defects?

Injection molding is an art, which involves science as well. Actually, injection molding requires great attention to detail as minor mistakes can cause a lot of financial loss to a company. In this article, we are going to discuss how you can eliminate common injection molding defects.

injection molding defects
injection molding defects

Flow Lines

Flow lines may include lines, patterns, and streaks that appear on the prototype part because of the cooling profile or physical path of the molten plastic while it moves into the cavity.

Fix:

  • One way to fix the issue is to increase the pressure and injection speed, which will make sure that the mold will fill the cavities.
  • Another way is to round the locations and corners where the thickness of the wall changes.

Sink Marks

These are minor depressions or craters that form in the thicker areas when shrinkage happens in the internal areas of the end product.

Fix:

  • Reduce the mold temperature, increase the holding pressure and time for better curing and cooling.
  • Reduce the thickness of the wall sections that are the thickest. This will allow faster cooling and prevent the sink marks.

Vacuum Voids

Vacuum voids refer to the air pockets inside or near the prototype surface. They occur because of the uneven solidification amidst the inner sections and the surface.

Fix:

  • Find the gate at the mold’s thickest part
  • Opt for the plastic that is less viscous, which will reduce the amount of gas trapped.
  • Increase the holding time and pressure
  • Try to keep the mold parts aligned

Surface Delamination

Surface delamination happens when thin layers of the surface show up on the part because of a contaminant. Actually, these layers look like coats that can be peeled off.

Fix:

  • Before molding, make sure you dry the plastic properly
  • Raise the degree of mold temperature
  • There should no sharp turns and corners in the mold design

Weld Lines

Weld lines show up on an area where the liquid plastics mixes while they flow from different injection mold parts.

Fix

  • Increase the temperature of molten plastic or mold
  • Raise the injection speed
  • Make adjustments to the design to ensure that the flow pattern is only one source flow

Short Shot

Short shot refers to a situation that happens when a molding shot tends to fall short. In other words, the molten plastic won’t fill the cavity of the mold for some reason. As a result, it leaves a portion where you can see plastic.

Fix

  • Opt for a plastic that features higher flow and less viscosity
  • Raise the mold temperature for better flow
  • Get a machine that features more material feed

To cut a long story short, you may have to face a lot of defects during the process of injection molding in China. What you need to do is follow the tips given in this article to fix or eliminate these issues to make the process error free. Hopefully, you will find these tips helpful.

Resource box: This article is originally posted in https://www.injectionmouldchina.com.