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A Short Introduction Of Injection Molding And Its Origins

The introduction of injection molding takes us back into the main reason it was created for: solve a manufacturing problem. Learn more about how it started and how it evolved.
a-short-introduction-of-injection-molding-and-its-origins
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The introduction of injection molding takes us back to the main reason it was created: to solve a manufacturing problem. Learn more about how it started and how it evolved. 

As the story goes due to the increased popularity of the game a billiards manufacturer 1868 created a contest with a lucrative cash prize. The competition was to provide a suitable replacement for ivory, used in the manufacturing of billiard balls. Ivory was expensive, only 4 or 5 balls could be produced from one tusk and the fear was that growing demand would exceed the supply of elephants. 

The challenge spurred John Wesley Hyatt to work with his brother to develop one of the first plastics: celluloid. The Hyatt brothers didn’t win the contest due to the balls from their first attempt not bouncing quite as needed. They continued to perfect the material and pioneered the injection molding manufacturing industry. A couple of years later they patented the apparatus for molding products from celluloid, which initiated a process of constant evolution to refine the use of materials and create products. 

More advancements were made, for example: 

  • 1903: Arthur Eichengrun and Theodore Becker, two German chemists, created soluble forms of cellulose acetate, in an effort to create products with significantly less flammability. 
  • 1930’s & 1940’s many of the popular basic thermoplastics were invented.
  • 1946: James Watson Hendry built the first screw injection machine with much more precise control over the speed of injection. He went on to enhance the process for decades. Thanks to him modern injection molding manufacturing is possible.

Injection molding continues to advance with around 750 new polymers added per year since 1995. It provides an ever growing number of manufacturing solutions today. 

Injection molding today

injection-molding-today-arrk

Many manufacturing sectors use injection molding to create their products: automotive, consumer products, medical devices, robotics, transportation, aerospace, and many more.

This introduction of injection molding gives you a broad perspective on the long road the industry has traveled thanks to this manufacturing solution. It provides an effective way to produce high quality parts and products, making them more affordable to all. The advancement of molding technology has involved a merge between manufacturing and computers, allowing it to improve the steps to end products. The results are not only acquired more easily, but it provides precision and room for further development.

Production with injection molding

The basic function of an injection molding machine is to inject melted plastic material into a mold to create an impression from it. There are ramifications for types of materials, functionality, and procedures for different needs of production.

The 5 basic injection molding process steps:

  1. Mold set and ready for heated material
  2. Injection of heated material
  3. Cooldown part 
  4. Ejection of piece
  5. Removal of runners and preparation for packaging

Injection molding machines are often categorized by the type of driving system used which are: hydraulic, mechanical, electrical, or hybrid.

Quality products made by injection molding

Mass production through injection molding allows companies to launch their products to market, provide quality to their customers, and comply with standard safety requirements for all users, among many other advantages it can provide to any industry sector.

ARRK’s outstanding quality is achieved through incorporating our long history of good engineering, quality work, and an experienced team possessing in-depth knowledge of the injection molding industry to serve our customers.

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