PLASTIC INJECTION / MOLD PRODUCTION PROCESSES
Plastic injection production is a production method in which plastic materials are melted and injected into a mold to produce products in desired shapes.
Design and Mold Design: The first step is to design the plastic product to be produced and design a suitable injection mold. The design is usually carried out using CAD (Computer Aided Design) software.
Mold Production: The mold is specially designed to give the desired form of the plastic product. The mold is usually made of durable materials such as steel or aluminum. After the mold design is completed, it is cut and processed using CNC machines.
Raw Material Preparation: The raw material to be used for plastic injection molding production is supplied in granules or powder form. The plastic material is selected according to the characteristics of the product.
Material Melting: The raw plastic material is transported to the injection molding machine. This machine melts the material at high temperature. The main components of the injection molding machine can be
Hopper Compartment where raw plastic granules are stored.
Screw: The screw that rotates to melt and homogenize the material.
Nozzle: The point where the melted plastic material is transported to the injection mold.
Injection into the Injection Mold: The melted plastic material is injected into the injection mold via the screw mechanism of the injection molding machine. In this step, the material is injected into the mold under high pressure.
Cooling and Hardening: The injected plastic material is left to cool in the mold. This step is important for the material to take its desired shape and harden. The cooling time can vary depending on the type of material and the complexity of the product
Mold Opening: After the material has completely hardened, the injection mold is opened. The two halves of the mold are separated and the product is removed. Mold opening is performed by hydraulic or mechanical systems.
Product Separation and Finishing: The products are separated and, if necessary, excess material residues are cut or cleaned.
These steps represent the overall injection molding production process. The injection molding machines used are usually hydraulic or electric. Their principle of operation is based on the interactions of the mechanisms used in stages such as melting the plastic material, the injection process, mold cooling and mold opening.
