Understanding the process of plastic fabrication is extremely important in the world of manufacturing. Even if all of the plastic fabrication takes place offsite, knowing what goes on during the fabrication process and how the design moves from paper to a final product is necessary. This way, a business owner is able to know how long it might take for certain elements of the manufactured product to reach completion and also how different parts are constructed in order to fit together. Plastic injection fabrication is an extremely helpful option, both in terms of unified quality and cost, but comprehending how plastic fabrication arrives to the finished, polished product from the initial stages should prove enlightening.
The Drawing Board
A manufacturer is going to go through several design stages in order to determine what the best construction of different elements are and how it all can fit together. The manufacturer is then going to determine what each element should be made out of. Once plastic is decided upon, at least for some parts of the product, the manufacturer needs to go and see a plastic fabrication company.
The designer inside of the plastic fabrication company is able to go over the mapped out design and determine if it the design is ready as-is or if some tweaks need to be made. If some tweaks are required, they can work with the manufacturer’s design team in order to come up with an adequate solution.
Computer Design
Once a proper design is constructed, the plastic fabrication designer creates the design on a computer using computer aided design (CAD) software. This software produces a three dimensional rendering of the product, allowing every element of the product to be looked over before it is ever constructed. When it receives approval, a mold of this design is crafted.
Plastic Injection Fabrication
With the mold complete, the plastic injection fabrication can begin. Using an injection molding machine, plastic is deposited into a reciprocating screw through a hopper opening which pushes the plastic bits through the barrel. During this time, heating elements turns the plastic into a liquid form and pushes the plastic through a nozzle into the mold’s cavity. Once inside, the plastic is cooled and ejected in order to form the final piece. This process is repeated as many times as the manufacturer requires, allowing the company to transform the paper idea into a final product.