Whether you need custom plastic parts for your own production needs or you're looking to get into the custom plastic molding industry, you need to have the right equipment to get the job done the first time. If you've been looking at plastic molding and extrusion machines, you've certainly seen that there are a lot of options. Here's a look at some of the things that you will need to consider as you shop.

How Much Plastic Flow Do You Need?

The first thing you should think about is how much plastic you need for each mold. That tells you how much you need the machine to inject into each mold during a single molding cycle. You'll have to evaluate the shot size of the machine to determine just how much capacity it has, and then look for a machine that offers at least 25 percent greater injection capacity than you actually need. This ensures that you aren't running short through your production cycle.

Do You Need A Lot Of Pressure For The Mold?

If you're using large-scale molds and you have to press the two sides together before the injection and hold them in place while it cures, you'll need to look for a plastic injection molding machine that offers you heavy tonnage. That tonnage refers to how many tons of pressure the machine is capable of using to hold the mold pieces together. The greater the tonnage, the more pressure your molding machine will have, and the more secure large molds will be during the fabrication process.

How Large A Mold Can You Use?

When you use a plastic injection molding machine, the mold cavity itself is placed on a platen, or a flat tool that holds the mold in place. You clamp each half of the mold to one platen, then the two platens are what press together to hold the mold together. That means that your injection machine is only capable of handling molds as large as the platen size. Make sure you consider this as you choose your machines.

How Does The Machine Eject Finished Products?

When finished, most molding machines will physically eject the finished product from the platens. The process of this is based on the flow of the ejector pins, and those dictate how effective the ejection process is. If the pins move too slowly, they won't eject the part, yet if they move too quickly, they risk damaging your newly molded items.

For more information, contact your local custom plastic fabrication service today.