Injection molding is a manufacturing method that is often used for producing plastic parts in large quantities. A mold is usually machined from aluminum or steel. That mold is injected with a molten plastic material, which then cools and hardens to the shape of the mold, resulting in a part that can be replicated thousands, or even millions of times.

An advantage of injection molding is that it makes a desirable process for producing large quantities of the same part over time. Other advantages include:

• Mass produce hundreds, or thousands, of products at a quick rate.
• Low cost - the price per part generally decreases with larger orders.
• Every product is identical.

At Development Workshop, we use the same process for each item that we produce.

A mold typically begins as a two-piece block of aluminum or steel that has been machined to contain a hollowed-out cavity into which molten plastic is forced to manufacture a plastic part.

Step 1
The mold closes – The two halves of the mold come together and are clamped closed by the molding machine.

Step 2
The “shot” - Plastic pellets are fed into the injection molding machine. The pellets are liquefied by heat and pressure. The molten plastic is then forced, or injected, into the mold cavity.

Step 3
Cooling - The molten plastic begins to cool as it comes in contact with the mold. As the plastic cools, it will solidify into the shape of the mold cavity, creating the desired part.

Step 4
Ejection – Once the part has cooled, the mold opens and the part is pushed out, or ejected, from the mold. The mold then closes for the next cycle to begin.