Depending on whether injection molding is utilized by hand or by machine, certain injection molding supplies will be needed. For small custom orders, injection molding can be done by hand. Supplies needed for this case are a mold, injection device, and heat source. Molds are typically made from tough metal materials that are resistant to heat, such as A2 steel.

When ordering large amounts of standard parts, an injection molding machine should be used. As long as a mold has been created, the only supplies to worry about are the materials that will be used in the process. Plastic and rubber are the most common choices for bulk injection molding because they are durable and adaptable, yet low in cost. Metal is typically used to make smaller, specialized parts or custom orders because it is much more expensive.

Using Injection Molding Supplies

The process of injection molding is the same with plastic and rubber. Small pellets are initially melted into a liquid. They are then injected into a specific mold and must fill the mold completely. After the liquid has cooled and hardened, it can be removed from the mold. Using some angles and rounded corners for mold shapes will help with removing parts from their molds.

When using metal for injection molding, a different technique must be utilized. Metal is not melted into a liquid before it is injected into molds. Metal is much more resistant to heat and has a different reaction to heat than plastic or rubber. Fine metal powder is first combined with a small amount of binder. The powder is then injected into its mold. After the mold has been filled with powder, it is heated to extreme temperatures. The heat causes the metal powder to shrink and eventually harden into the specific mold shape.