Choosing the Correct Molding System
Choosing the molding system to
employ depends on the requirements of the plastic part to be produced. Adept Custom Molders'
(ACM) can produce injection molded plastic parts from cold runner molds, hot runner molds and insulated runner molds. A few considerations when selecting the system to use include:
- Part complexity
- Color requirements
- Physical characteristics of material
- Type of plastic material to use - virgin or "regrind"
- Color changes during production run
- Single or multiple design production
- Volume of parts to be produced
- Production speed required
Each molding system offers advantages and disadvantages. We can help you
select the correct molding system to manufacture your plastic parts as economically as possible.
Cold Runner Molding: The Pros and Cons
Cold runner injection molding is best for manufacturing plastic parts of simple
design or when more than one color of the part needs to be produced.
Molds are generally less expensive to build and maintain than hot runner or
insulated runner molds. With a cold runner mold, the runner (excess material retained in the feed
channels) is cooled and ejected with the part. Every cycle, a part and a
runner are produced.
Waste material must be either disposed of or reground and
reprocessed. Hot Runner Molding vs. Cold Runner Molding
Hot-runner plastic
injection molding systems are used when large runs have to be
manufactured
in
highly automated production. Additionally, technological
advances enable us to build molds with gates positioned to yield the best
quality molded
parts.
The primary difference between the two systems is that hot runner
eliminates the excess material retained in the feed channels of a cold
runner mold. This feature:
- Reduces the number of production steps required
- Saves in material, labor and energy costs
Hot Runner Molding vs. Insulated
Runner Molding
Hot runner molding yields the lowest cost per finished part, but hot
runner molds can be very
expensive to build.
Insulated runner molds are an excellent option when a large number of plastic parts need to be manufactured quickly.
Insulated runner molds are less expensive to build and maintain than hot runner
molds, easy to clean and change production colors quickly, and provide
faster molding cycles and improved part finishes.
For a quote or more information about the various types of injection
molding we offer, and how we can help your project, call 765-457-8225, or send us an email, or submit this short form:
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