Injection Molding

Figure 1 : Reciprocating screw type of injection molding machine

The processes included by an injection molding machine are clamping, injection, cooling and
ejection. Prime components of injection molding machine can be categorized to hopper, reciprocating
screw, barrel, heater, mold cavity and platen.
The reciprocating screw in injection molding is made up of two components which are the
injection molding screw and screw tip assembly. It serves two purposes, the first being to convey
material forward in the barrel to the front of the injection unit for each new shot, and two, inject the
plastic under high pressure into the mold. In clamping process the mold cavities are clamped on the
platen.
The clamping unit closes the two halves of the mold. This is done before the material is injected
into the mold. Both the halves of the mold are attached to the injection molding machine. When the
material is being injected, the mold must be securely closed. The barrel heater is used to heat the plastic
granules in the injection process.
Plastic resin enters the mold through a hopper in the injection mold. The reciprocating screw is
used to allow the plastic resin to flow through the barrel into the mold, also known as the cavity. As the
plastic resin is in the barrel, the barrel heater is used to maintain the temperature of the plastic resin.
 Resin is fed to the machine through the hopper.   Colorants are usually fed to the machine
directly after the hopper.  The resins enter the injection barrel by gravity though the feed throat.  Upon
entrance into the barrel, the resin is heated to the appropriate melting temperature.  A heater heats up
the tube and when it reaches a high temperature a screw thread starts turning.
A motor turns a thread which pushes the granules along the heater section which melts then
into a liquid. The liquid is forced into a mould where it cools into the shape. The temperature of the
mould is controlled because it is important that the molding cools at the correct rate to avoid distortion
and stress. By means of ejectors the finished molding is pushed from the mould. Ejector Pins is used to
push the molding out of the mold.