About injection molding

Injection molding is a manufacturing process for producing parts from both thermoplastic and thermosetting plastic materials capable of high performance to heat, cold, torsion and other extreme stresses. Material is fed into a heated barrel, mixed, and forced into a mold cavity where it cools and hardens to the configuration of the mold cavity. After a product is designed, usually by an industrial designer or an engineer, molds are made by an MWI toolmaker from metal, usually either steel or aluminum, and precision-machined to form the features of the desired part. Injection molding is widely used for manufacturing a variety of parts, from the smallest component found in micro-electronics to entire body panels of transportation equipment, even airplanes.

Plastic injection molding provides low cost at moderate to large quantities. Plastic molding is an extremely versatile process for producing a wide range of simple or complex plastic parts with a good finish. Almost any 2D or 3D shape can be achieved. However draft is required in most cases as the shape must allow ejection from the mold. Side holes and even threaded holes are possible though they complicate the tooling.