Engineering services are essential for successful plastic injection molding. With the help of experienced engineers, custom tool builders can create the optimal design for a specific project. Engineers can also recommend the best materials and production processes required to produce high-quality parts. Additionally, engineering services provide valuable technical expertise that can identify potential problems and find solutions before production begins. This helps ensure that each part is produced according to expectations – quickly, accurately and with great results.

Custom plastics injection molding companies typically offer a variety of engineering services, including:

• Design optimization – 3D modeling and CAD/CAM to create high precision parts
• Material selection and evaluation – assessing various materials in terms of their performance and compatibility with the product requirements
• Process simulation and optimization – engineers simulate the production process for accuracy and efficiency
• Tooling design and manufacturing – custom tool builders create tools that are optimized for a specific application
• Troubleshooting and problem-solving – helps identify any potential issues before production begins which can save time and resources down the line

In simplified terms, melted plastic, also known as resin,  poured (or injected) into molds that are in the shape of the final product. Once the plastic cools and hardens, the final product is removed from the molds. Products are then finished, inspected, tested and shipped to the final consumer. 

Injection molding is a great choice if you have a high volume/quantity. If you only need a 1,000 pieces, the initial investment of a new custom mold may not be feasible.

Custom injection molding is one of the most cost-efficient molding processes however there are great upfront costs associated with designing and building new molds. New molds can range from $10k- $100k depending on the size and complexity.

We offer various materials for different purposes. Four common materials used in plastic injection molding are:

• Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS): Impact-resistant and rigid, used in Legos and some cars.
• ‌Polystyrene (PS): Rigid and economical, used in plastic cutlery and CD cases.
• ‌Acrylic: Transparent and shatter-resistant, used to replace glass in windows.
• ‌Polycarbonate: Heat-resistant and durable, used in eyewear and car exteriors.

When designing custom plastic parts for injection molding, a number of characteristics must be taken into consideration. These include material properties, wall thickness, part geometry, dimension and tolerances, surface finish and texture, internal stresses and forces applied during the injection molding process, heat dissipation needs and regulations or standards that need to be complied with. Additionally, it is important to assess potential wear and tear as well as look for any potential design flaws in order to ensure the part meets all of its performance requirements.