AIM Processing Small Plastic Parts Blog

If you’ve spent a significant amount of time in the plastics industry like us, you may have noticed a recent trend that’s picked up speed over the last few years. The utilization of lasers in plastic etching and engraving isn’t something completely new; the technology has actually been around for quite some time. It’s the recent improvements to the technology that has caught the eye of customers and plastics professionals alike.

Like most technical specializations, plastic injection molding has a vocabulary all its own. In some cases the terms are unique, in others they may be common terms but used in a unique way in our industry. All in all, there are probably hundreds of words in the plastic injection molding lexicon.

You’ve been asked to source small plastic parts for your company’s product (we define “small” as the size of your fingernail to the size of your hand), but are unfamiliar with the plastic injection molding process. Here’s a quick overview to give you a baseline understanding. And, of course, we’re always happy to answer your questions on the phone or via email.

While the correct application of the science of plastic injection molding can take you a long way toward creating the perfect part, there are still a number of issues that can arise. That’s where experience, and the art of plastic injection molding come into play.

Three of the most common issues are: