Article Directory
- Injection Molding Machine Overview
- What Types of Injection Molding Machines Are There?
- What Are the Main Components of an Injection Molding Machine?
- How Does an Injection Molding Machine Work?
- Characteristics of Injection Molding Machines
- What Are the Main Uses of Injection Molding Machines?
- Choose the Right Injection Molding Machine
- How Much Does an Injection Molding Machine Cost?
- What Are the Well-Known Manufacturers of Injection Molding Machines?
- Future Development Trends of Injection Molding Machines
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
Injection Molding Machine Overview
Injection molding machines (also known as plastic molding machines, injection machines) are specialized tools used in the plastic molding industry to inject materials into plastic products of various shapes and sizes.
It is mainly composed of 4 main components: injection system, mold clamping system, hydraulic system and electrical control system. By heating a raw material (usually plastic pellets) until it melts into liquid form. This molten material is then injected into the mold cavity. After sufficient cooling, the mold is opened and the finished part is ejected, ready for further processing or use.
Injection molding machines are widely used in various industries such as automobiles, aerospace, medical, construction, household appliances, and consumer goods.
What Types of Injection Molding Machines Are There?
Depending on the driving mode, common injection molding machine types include manual injection molding machines, hydraulic injection molding machines, electric injection molding machines, hybrid injection molding machines, etc.
Manual injection molding machine
A manual injection molding machine is a type of injection molding equipment that requires manual operation by an operator. Unlike automated or semi-automated machines, which feature automatic injection, clamping, and ejection processes, manual machines rely on the operator to perform these tasks manually.
Hydraulic injection molding machine
A hydraulic injection molding machine is a type of injection molding equipment that utilizes hydraulic systems to power its various functions. In hydraulic machines, hydraulic fluid is used to generate the necessary pressure and force to perform tasks such as clamping, injection, and ejection of plastic materials.
All-electric injection molding machine
All-electric injection molding machines are powered by CNC high-speed servo motors rather than hydraulic systems, resulting in faster, repeatable, more precise and energy-efficient operation. Motor operation is highly predictable, so once the ideal injection process is achieved, it can be replicated very consistently, resulting in higher quality parts.
Hybrid injection molding machine
Hybrid injection molding machines merge hydraulic press clamping force with electric motor precision, resulting in enhanced performance for thin- and thick-walled parts. Their popularity has grown due to improved efficiency and ease of use.
What Are the Main Components of an Injection Molding Machine?
1. Injection system
Its function is to heat and plasticize specific plastics within a specified time in a circulating injection molding machine, and to melt the plastic through the screw to inject the mold cavity at a specific pressure and speed.
2. Mold clamping system
The mold closing system ensures the mold closing, mold opening and ejection functions of the machine. At the same time, after the mold is closed, the mold has enough clamping force to resist the pressure caused by the molten plastic entering the mold cavity, thereby preventing the mold from opening and causing poor product conditions.
3. Hydraulic system
The function of the hydraulic transmission system is to provide power to the injection molding machine according to the various actions required during the injection molding process to meet the pressure, speed, temperature and other requirements of the injection molding machine parts.
4. Electrical control system
The electronic control system and the hydraulic system are well coordinated and can realize the process requirements (pressure, temperature, speed, time) and various program actions of injection molding.
How Does an Injection Molding Machine Work?
The plastic injection molding machine uses the thrust of the screw (or plunger) to inject the plasticized plastic in the molten state (i.e. viscous flow state) into the closed mold cavity, and then obtains the product after solidification and shaping.
Injection molding is a cyclic process, and each cycle mainly includes: quantitative feeding - melting and plasticizing - pressure injection - mold filling and cooling - mold opening and removal. After taking out the plastic part, the mold is closed again and the next cycle is carried out.
Characteristics of Injection Molding Machines
● Produce complex parts with tight tolerances with high precision and repeatability.
● A large number of parts can be produced quickly, making it suitable for mass production.
● Adaptable to a variety of plastic materials, making it suitable for a variety of industries and applications.
● Fully automated features increase efficiency and reduce labor costs.
● Presses come in a variety of sizes and tonnages to produce small, medium and large parts.
● They provide consistent part quality and dimensional accuracy, minimizing defects and waste.
What Are the Main Uses of Injection Molding Machines?
Injection molding machines have the ability to mold plastic products with complex shapes, precise dimensions or dense textures with metal inserts in one go. They are widely used in national defense, electromechanical, automobiles, transportation, building materials, packaging, agriculture, health and people. All areas of daily life.
For example, in the automotive industry, injection molding machines can be used to produce interior trims, dashboards, exterior body parts and engine components.
In the field of consumer goods, it can be used to produce household products, electronic casings, packaging containers and toys.
In the aerospace industry: used in the manufacture of housings and structural components, seat components, ventilation ducts and electronic system housings.
Choose the Right Injection Molding Machine
Important factors that usually affect the selection of injection molding machines include molds, products, plastics, molding requirements, etc. Therefore, the following information must be collected or possessed before making a selection:
Mold size (width, height, thickness), weight, special design, etc.;
Type and quantity of plastic used (single raw material or multiple plastics);
Appearance dimensions (length, width, height, thickness), weight, etc. of the injection molded finished product;
Molding requirements, such as quality conditions, production speed, etc.
Once you have the above information, you can follow the steps below to choose the right injection molding machine:
1. Choose the right model: The model and series are determined by the product and plastic.
2. Can fit: Determine the "large column inner distance", mold thickness, and "minimum mold size" of the machine based on the size of the mold to confirm whether the mold can fit.
3. Lockability: The tonnage of "clamping force" is determined by the product and plastic.
4. Full injection: Determine the required "injection volume" based on the weight of the finished product and the number of mold cavities and select the appropriate "screw diameter".
5. Shoot quickly: that is, the confirmation of "injection speed".
How Much Does an Injection Molding Machine Cost?
If you are looking to make money by purchasing a new injection molding machine to start your business, you may be wondering how much does it cost? What is the average cost in your area?
The cheapest injection molding machines cost around $8,000, not including shipping, tax, customs clearance, service and technical support. Cost depends on the brand and type, and whether you require any additional features including personalized design, custom bench size, generator and power supply, commissioning and other special features.
For detailed prices, please click to read: How Much Does an Injection Molding Machine Cost?
What Are the Well-Known Manufacturers of Injection Molding Machines?
Some of the world-renowned injection molding machine brands and brief company profiles include:
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ARBURG GmbH + Co KG | It with its electric, hybrid, and hydraulic plastic injection molding machines, turnkey systems, and its industrial additive manufacturing system, is among the industry leaders worldwide. |
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Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Plastics Machinery GmbH | Sumitomo (SHI) Demag's machines are known for their advanced technology, high precision, and energy efficiency. |
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Nissei Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd. | Nissei Plastic Industrial's machines are known for their high-quality construction, advanced technology, and energy efficiency. |
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Haitian International Holdings Limited | Established in 1966, Haitian International is one of the world's largest manufacturers of plastic injection molding machines. |
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ENGEL Austria GmbH | Founded in 1945, ENGEL is a leading manufacturer of injection molding machines, automation systems, and peripheral equipment. |
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Milacron | Milacron is an American limited liability company that manufactures and distributes plastic processing equipment for fields such as injection molding and extrusion molding. |
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Husky Injection Molding Systems | Since 1953, Husky has grown to become a global leader in injection molding systems and services to the plastics industry。 |
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Sunbun | Sunbun is one of China's top injection molding machine suppliers, providing affordable injection molding machines to the world. |
Future Development Trends of Injection Molding Machines
The future development direction of injection molding machines may be affected by a variety of factors, including economic growth, market demand and technological progress.
With the rise of smart technology, injection molding machines are expected to become more advanced, and the implementation of digital technology can bring more efficient production management and quality control, making injection molding machines more efficient.
In addition, the integration of injection molding machines with other equipment is expected to improve production efficiency and quality by achieving seamless connections.
Finally, injection molding machines will strive to reduce their impact on the environment by reducing energy consumption and pollutant emissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1:What is the injection molding machine market growth?
A: The injection molding machine market, in terms of revenue, is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.6% from 2023 to 2030 to reach USD 22.03 billion by 2030.
Q2:Which segment accounted for the largest injection molding machine market share?
A: Asia Pacific dominated the injection molding machine market with a revenue share of 40.3% in 2024 owing to the growing industrialization, increasing investment in packaging, and electronics, coupled with a strong consumer base in the region.
Q3:Who are the major exporters of injection molding machines?
A: China is the main exporter of injection molding machines, followed by Japan, Germany and South Korea.
Q4:What are the main uses of injection molding machines?
A: It is classified as automotive, consumer goods, packaging, healthcare, electrical & electronics, and others
Conclusion
This article outlines the main types, components, working principles, characteristics, uses, prices, etc. of injection molding machines.
Injection molding machines are widely used in the manufacturing industry and are a versatile piece of plastic molding equipment.
When purchasing an injection molding machine, it is important to consider its features, price, warranty, and other factors in detail.
Sunbun is a reputable plastic injection molding machine manufacturer with 30 years of experience.
The quality and performance of our injection molding machines are guaranteed, and the prices are absolutely affordable. If this interests you then please contact us. We provide you with free quotes and guidance.