As the global market becomes more and more competitive, the quality of products has become increasingly important. To maintain a high level of quality, manufacturers must have strict quality control measures in place during the production process. Like other industries, the injection molding industry has its own set of quality control measures that must be followed to produce high-quality products.
Plastic injection molding service
You are probably wondering, how does one go about quality control in injection molding? Well, it’s not as complicated as you might think. This article will look at the basics of injection molding quality control and what you need to do to ensure that your products are of the highest quality.
Injection molding quality control | An overview
Injection molding quality control
We all have had to deal with getting a product that was either not as advertised or didn’t meet our expectations at different points in our lives. As consumers, we have come to expect a certain level of quality from the products we purchase—and rightfully so! We work hard for our money and deserve to get products that meet our expectations.
The same is true for businesses that manufacture their products using injection molding. In today’s competitive market, it is more important than ever to have strict quality control measures in place to ensure the highest quality of your products.
So, what is injection molding quality control? In a nutshell, it is a process that ensures that your products meet the required standards and specifications. This process includes several activities, including product design, material selection, manufacturing processes, and final inspection.
To gain insights about injection molding, read our blog ”Injection Molding Process”.
Quality checks and control points in injection molding
Injection molding quality control
No matter what the product is, certain test and control points must be met to be considered high quality. The same is true for products that are manufactured using injection molding. Some of the most important test and control points in injection molding include:
Visual inspection for quality
The first and most obvious quality control measure is a visual inspection. This is where you look at the product to see if there are any obvious defects. Defects could be anything from cracks or holes in the product to uneven surfaces or even just lint or debris on the surface.
If any defects are found, they need to be fixed before the product can be considered high-quality.
Liquid plastic flashing
If you see any liquid plastic flashing on the product’s surface, this is a sign that the injection process was not done correctly. The plastic should be completely solid before it is removed from the mold.
Sometimes, the workers may rush through the process and not let the plastic cool down completely before removing it from the mold. This can cause defects in the product. You must ensure that the cooling process takes time and allow the plastic to cool down completely before removing it from the mold.
Uneven surfaces
Do you see a product with one side that is completely smooth and the other that is rough and uneven? If so, this is another sign that the injection process was not done correctly. The molten plastic should be evenly distributed in the mold before cooling and solidifying it. If it is not, the product will have uneven surfaces.
Short shots and knits lines
A very common defect in injection-molded products is called a short shot. This is when the molten plastic does not fill the mold before it is cooled and solidified. It can happen for various reasons, such as the wrong type of plastic or the less quantity of plastic used.
Another common defect is knit lines. These are lines on the product’s surface where two streams of molten plastic have joined together. This defect is usually caused by the plastic not being heated to the correct temperature before being injected into the mold.
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Quality control parameters in plastic injection molding
Process parameters play a significant role in defining the quality of the final product in plastic injection molding. You need to ensure that all process parameters are within the specified range. Some of the most important process parameters in injection molding include:
- Tolerance Level
- Material Heating Zone
- Mold Temperature
- Injection Pressure
- Cooling Time
- Overall Production Time
A final inspection is the last quality control measure. It involves checking the product to see if it meets all the required specifications and standards. If it does, it can be considered high quality. Otherwise, it needs to be fixed or discarded.
Injection molding quality control-Conclusion
With the overview of Injection Molding Quality Control, you may better understand what needs to be done to ensure that your products meet the required standards and specifications. By following the proper procedures and having strict quality control measures in place, you can be sure that your products will be of the highest quality.
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Injection molding quality control: FAQ
Why quality control is to be done?
Quality control is essential to maintaining a product’s quality and ensuring customer satisfaction. It also minimizes the chances of defects and reduces the cost of recalls.
What are the different types of quality control?
There are four main types of QC methods that can be used in injection molding: product testing, process control, statistical process control, and experiment design.
