Archives for August 2011

Better Injection Mold Sourcing…Is It Worth The Trouble?

August 17, 2011 by

Better Injection Mold Sourcing

Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) have to be good at what they do to survive in the global economy. To achieve this goal many demand that their suppliers have state-of-the-art molding equipment and procedures. OEMs can purchase some of the world’s best plastic materials from American manufacturers. When it comes to buying molds, OEMs have shown a preference for low-cost over high quality. This is counterproductive, as world-class molding requires a state-of-the-art injection molds.

Low Cost Injection Mold from China

injection mold made of high quality steelManufacturers have been seeking low cost Injection Mold from China, India and many other low cost centers for some years now. China has put in the necessary infrastructure to support the injection mold building industry in the Shenzhen area.  In spite of that fact, lower cost shops have opened in other areas like Shanghai, Dongguan in Guangdong, and Huangyan.  Labor costs are lower and so is the skill of the workers.  It is my professional opinion that no-one should ever gamble and go to areas beyond Shenzhen if they are seeking high level craftsmanship and an injection mold that will last as per SPI Standards.

OEMs and Molders receive spam email each day soliciting their injection mold business.  Many of these emails come from minor shops of which reside in areas that are not well supported.  As long as everything goes well, it may be ok… but when there are issues, these shops do not have the technical ability nor the financial where withal to support it.  We often hear customers talking about how badly they were hurt by a China shop.  When this is explored further, you find that many times they went to small, unsupported, financially unstable shops which presented to them a very attractive cost.  The cost did not end up low…but very late and very expensive for the repairs.  Total cost of acquisition can be deceiving.

Injection Mold Supplier – Total Solution Plastic

This is why it is extremely important to deal with Hybrid shops like Total Solution Plastic that has been to China, met the people and qualified the shop.  Agreements are in place to support each other and ultimately our customer. This may cost a little more than going to the lower cost centers, but Quality Assurance, Financial Stability and Project Management is paramount when making such an important decision for your company.

Typically we see about 40% cost savings to our customers as compared to “domestic” prices as long as the mold has a substantial amount of labor involved.  Simply, the larger the mold, the more action, the more the cost; you realize more savings.  It really comes down to the cost of qualified labor and engineering support that can cost effectively produce your mold.

To learn more about Injection Mold from Total Solution Plastic visit our website, or use our Contact Form to email us.

Franklin Spears
Total Solution Plastic
7613 Pats Branch Drive
Raleigh, NC 27612
919-900-8801

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INJECTION MOLD STEEL DESIGN TIPS

August 1, 2011 by

What Steel Should You Use When Building Your New Plastic Injection Mold?


Low Cost Injection Mold from China

Plastic Injection Mold

Your company is about to invest in an injection mold to manufacture a plastic part. That is, you’re ready to write the purchase order once you decide which molder has quoted you the best value for your dollar. You want the lowest price, the lowest injection mold maintenance, AND the highest product quality. Right? Yet, how can you tell what you’re really buying when one supplier quoted $3000 and another quoted $13,000? They both saw the same blueprint! It’s probably true that both molds could produce good quality plastic parts.

Injection Mold Scenarios

Buyers should consider two scenarios: quick machining steel/low production quantity versus slower machining steel/high production-high quality. Quoting molds is often an “assumption game.” The more the customer can define what they want, the fewer variables enter into the quote. The customer’s goal is to get apples-to-apples quotes from each supplier, and this isn’t always easy.

One variable in quoting the injection mold is the quality of steel to be used. Total Solution Plastic typically quotes high quality tool steel unless the customer specifies otherwise. We do, however, build tooling from all grades of material such as prehard steel (P-20), hardened tool steel (S-7,H-13,O-1,A-2,etc.), aluminum, or stainless steel.

Prehard: P-20

P-20 is the most popular and versatile injection mold steel. It is used for all sizes of machine-cut injection mold, and does not require post machining heat treatment. No heat treatment eliminates the finish machining and grinding operations which are necessary because of the dimensional changes which occur in heat treatment.

Prehard can be chrome-plated or nickel-plated for wear and corrosion resistance, if needed. However, we typically do not recommend P-20 steel if the production quantity is high (+500,000) or reinforced plastics are to be used. The trade-off is usually less moldmaker labor ($) versus longevity of the injection mold (time).

Hardened Tool Steel: H-13, S-7

This steel renders a fine combination of toughness and strength. The steel is mostly furnished in the annealed condition and must then be heat treated after the mold is finished. The steel hardens to about Rockwell C 46 – C 54. Hardened tool steel is used when a steel is needed for molding reinforced plastics, or when a large production quantity is anticipated. Hardened steel also takes an excellent polish, therefore it is used for clear parts such as lenses.

Stainless Steel: 420

Stainless steel is frequently used when corrosion or rusting may be a problem. Rusting of waterlines or the mold due to condensation can be very costly because of the extra maintenance and frequent polishing. Stainless 420 must be heat treated. It has outstanding dimensional stability in heat treatment and therefore, the mold needs very little finishing and correcting after heat treatment. This steel also takes a high luster polish.

Three variables enter into the calculation of a mold’s price: the material to be used, the estimate of mold maker hours, and the labor/overhead rate.

Price = Material + (Hours X Rate)

The steel quoted will determine the material price and moldmaker hours required. Although the steel or material cost typically amount to only 10% of the injection mold price, the amount of time required to machine the steel is a major part of the cost. The prehard steel may be a very cost effective route if for example, the plastic to be injection mold is polyethylene, the quality of the plastic part is not “gold-plated”, and the life of the injection mold is small, such as 20,000 pieces.

If, on the other hand, the plastic part is 30% glass-filled nylon, specifies no parting line flash, and will run one million parts, Total Solution Plasticl will quote tool steel. The steel cost is marginally more expensive then prehard, however the mold maker hours required will be substantially higher.

The challenge for all buyers is to define which steel is being quoted and whether that steel will be satisfactory for the project’s objectives.  As a service to our customers, we deliver an ASSAY report with each mold showing the mold steel used.

To learn more about Injection Mold from Total Solution Plastic visit our website, or use our Contact Form to email us.

Franklin Spears
Total Solution Plastic
7613 Pats Branch Drive
Raleigh, NC 27612
919-900-8801

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WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT INJECTION MOLD STEELS

August 1, 2011 by

Injection Mold Steels – What You Should Know

high quality injection mold

In an age that demands high productivity in manufacturing, there is no substitute for high quality injection mold in your injection molding process. Given the wide variety of injection mold steels available today, proper selection must take into account not only price and traditional practice but why they are used. In order to make the proper selection, one must understand the multiple demands that are placed upon injection mold steels, depending on the specific application. There are two major categories of demands which, together, highlight 12 desirable qualities.

Injection Mold Demands

  1. Wear Resistance – Important to consider for cavity components if the plastic material is abrasive, filled with glass or minerals.
  2. Toughness (Impact Strength) – Can be an important factor in repair or component replacement cost.
  3. Compressive Strength – Needed to withstand injection mold clamping forces to minimize damage to shut off areas.
  4. Heat Treated – Needed when injection molds operate at high temperatures.
  5. Corrosion Resistance – Very important in two major aspects – first when corrosive plastics or additives are used; and second, when injection mold operate in high-humidity areas or regions where the water is particularly corrosive.
  6. Thermal Conductivity – Can have an impact on the cycle time of high-production injection mold and although it’s not often a major factor in selecting mold steels, it is a reason for choosing beryllium copper instead of steel in some cases.

Injection Mold Makers Demands

  1. Hobbability – Permits production of numbers of intricate injection mold cavities. With the use of EDM (Electrostatic Discharge Machine), hobbability is becoming less important.
  2. Machinability – Of great economic importance for the injection mold maker.
  3. Polishability – Cavities that require a mirror-like finish must be made of special injection mold steels.
  4. Heat-Treating Dimensional Stability – A steel with good dimensional stability must be selected.
  5. Weldability – An injection mold steel should be considered because of part design and engineering changes or repair because of tool damage.
  6. Nitriding Ability – Nitriding gives a very hard surface layer to the steel and very good resistance to abrasion or corrosion. However, the nitriding layer (2 to 10 mils thick) is very brittle and easily cracks if subjected to impact blows, rapid temperature changes or uneven pressures.

To learn more about Injection Mold from Total Solution Plastic visit our website, or use our Contact Form to email us.

Franklin Spears
Total Solution Plastic
7613 Pats Branch Drive
Raleigh, NC 27612
919-900-8801

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Plastic Injection Mold Acronymns

August 1, 2011 by

Plastic Injection Mold Acronymns

Injection Mold Nomenclature

Here are some plastic injection mold terms that I hope will help you.

The following is a partial list of Abbreviations for Chemical, Marketing and Scientific injection mold related technology terms. Due to the changing standards of chemical nomenclature, some of the injection mold nomenclature may no longer be used, has been changed, or a variant is used.

  • AAGR – AVERAGE ANNUAL GROWTH RATE
  • ABA – ACRYLONITRILE-BUTADIENE-ACRYLATE
  • ABS – ACRYLONITRILE-BUTADIENE-STYRENE COPOLYMER
  • ABS – ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM
  • ACM – ACRYLIC ACID ESTER RUBBER
  • ACS – ACRYLONITRILE-CHLORINATED PE-STYRENE
  • ADA – AMINO DODECANOIC ACID
  • AES – ACRYLONITRILE-ETHYLENE-PROPYLENE-STYRENE
  • AMMA – ACRYLONITRILE-METHYL METHACRYLATE
  • AN – ACRYLONITRILE
  • ANSI – AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE
  • AO – ANTIOXIDANT
  • APET – AMORPHOUS POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE
  • API – ADDITION-REACTION POLYIMIDES
  • APP – ATACTIC POLYPROPYLENE
  • AS – ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
  • ASA – ACRYLIC-STYRENE-ACRYLONITRILE
  • ASTM – AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
  • ATH – ALUMINIUM TRIHYDRATE
  • AZ(O) – AZODICARBONAMIDE
  • BM – BLOW MOLDING
  • BMC – BULK MOLDING COMPOUNDS
  • BMI – BISMALEIMIDE
  • BO – BIAXIALLY-ORIENTED (FILM)
  • BOPP – BIAXIALLY-ORIENTED POLYPROPYLENE
  • BR – BUTADIENE RUBBER
  • BS BUTADIENE STYRENE RUBBER
  • CA – CELLULOSE ACETATE
  • CAB – CELLULOSE ACETATE BUTYRATE
  • CAD – COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN
  • CAE – COMPUTER AIDED ENGINEERING
  • CAM – COMPUTER AIDED MANUFACTURING
  • CAP – CELLULOSE ACETATE PROPIONATE
  • CAP – CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE PACKAGING
  • CBA – CHEMICAL BLOWING AGENT
  • CF – CRESOL FORMALDEHYDE
  • CFA – CHEMICAL FOAMING AGENT
  • CFC – CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS
  • CFR – CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS
  • CHDM – CYCLOHEXANEDIMETHANOL
  • CIM – COMPUTER INTEGRATED MANUFACTURING
  • CN – CELLULOSE NITRATE
  • COP – COPOLYESTER
  • COPA – COPOLYAMIDE
  • COPE – COPOLYESTER
  • CP – CELLULOSE PROPIONATE
  • CPE – CHLORINATED POLYETHYLENE
  • CPET – CRYSTALLINE POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE
  • CPI – CONDENSATION-REACTION POLYIMIDES
  • CPP – CAST POLYPROPYLENE
  • CPVC – CHLORINATED POLYVINYL CHLORIDE
  • CR – CHLOROPRENE RUBBER
  • CS – CASEIN
  • CSA – CANADIAN STANDARDS ASSOCIATION
  • CSD – CARBONATED SOFT DRINK
  • CTA – CELLULOSE TRIACETATE
  • CTFE – POLYMONOCHLOROTRIFLUOROETHYLENE
  • CVD – CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION
  • DABCO – DIAZOBICYCLOOCTANE
  • DAM – DAYS AFTER MANUFACTURE
  • DAM – DIALLYL MALEATE
  • DAP – DIALLYL PHTHALATE
  • DCPD – DICYCLOPENTADIENE
  • DDA – DO DECANOIC ACID
  • DE – DIOTAMACEOUS EARTH
  • DEA – DIELECTRIC ANALYSIS
  • DETDA – DIETHYLTOLUENEDIAMINE
  • DMA – DYNAMIC MECHANICAL ANALYSIS
  • DMT – DIMETHYL ESTER OF TEREPHTHALATE
  • DSC – DIFFERENTIAL SCANNING ANALYSIS
  • DTUL – DEFLECTION TEMPERATURE UNDER LOAD
  • DWV – DRAIN, WASTE, VENT (PIPE GRADE)
  • EAA – ETHYLENE ACRYLIC ACID
  • EB – ELECTRON BEAM
  • EBA – ETHYLENE BUTYL ACRYLATE
  • EC – ETHYL CELLULOSE
  • ECTFE – ETHYLENE-CHLOROTRIFLUOROETHYLENE COPOLYMER
  • EEA – ETHYLENE-ETHYL ACRYLATE
  • EG – ETHYLENE GLYCOL
  • EMA – ETHYLENE-METHYL ACRYLATE
  • EMAA – ETHYLENE METHACRYLIC ACID
  • EMAC – ETHYLENE-METHYL ACRYLATE COPOLYMER
  • EMC – ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY
  • EMI – ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE
  • EMPP – ELASTOMER MODIFIED POLYPROPYLENE
  • EnBA – ETHYLENE NORMAL BUTYL ACRYLATE
  • EP – EPOXY RESIN, ALSO ETHYLENE-PROPYLENE
  • EPA – ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
  • EPDM – ETHYLENE-PROPYLENE TERPOLYMER RUBBER
  • EPM – ETHYLENE-PROPYLENE RUBBER
  • EPS – EXPANDABLE POLYSTYRENE
  • ESCR – ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS CRACK RESISTANCE
  • ESI – ETHYLENE-STYRENE COPOLYMERS
  • ETE – ENGINEERING THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMERS
  • ETFE – ETHYLENE -TETRAFLUOROETHYLENE COPOLYMER
  • ETP – ENGINEERING THERMOPLASTICS
  • EVA(C) – POLETHYLENE-VINYL ACETATE
  • EVOH – POLETHYLENE-VINYL ALCOHOL COPOLYMERS
  • FDA – FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
  • FEP – FLUORINATED ETHYLENE PROPYLENE COPOLYMERS
  • FPVC – FLEXIBLE POLYVINYL CHLORIDE
  • FR – FLAME RETARDANT
  • FR – FIBER REINFORCED
  • FRP – FIBER REINFORCED PLASTIC
  • GIM – GAS INJECTION MOLDING
  • GIT – GAS INJECTION TECHNIQUE
  • GMT(P) GLASS MAT REINFORCED THERMOPLASTICS
  • GPC – GEL PERMEATION CHROMOTOGRAPHY
  • GPPS – GENERAL PURPOSE POLYSTYRENE
  • GRP – GLASS FIBER REINFORCED PLASTICS
  • GTP – GROUP TRANSFER POLYMERIZATION
  • HALS – HINDERED AMINE LIGHT STABILIZER
  • HAS – HINDERED AMINE STABILIZERS
  • HB – BRINELL HARDNESS NUMBER
  • HCFC – HYDROCHLOROFLUOROCARBONS
  • HCR – HEAT-CURED RUBBER
  • HDI – HEXAMETHYLENE DIISOCYANATE
  • HDPE – HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE
  • HDT – HEAT DEFLECTION TEMPERATURE
  • HFC – HYDROFLUOROCARBONS
  • HIP – HIGH-IMPACT POLYSTYRENE
  • HIPS – HIGH-IMPACT POLYSTYRENE
  • HM – HIGH-MODULUS
  • HMC – HIGH-STRENGTH MOLDING COMPOUND
  • HMDI – DIISOCYANATO DICYCLOHEXYLMETHANE
  • HME – HIGH-VINYL MODIFIED EPOXY
  • HMW – HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT
  • HNP – HIGH NITRILE POLYMER
  • IM – INJECTION MOLDING
  • IMC – IN-MOLD COATING
  • IMD – IN-MOLD DECORATION
  • IPI – ISOPHORONE DIISOCYANATE
  • IPN – INTERPENETRATING POLYMER NETWORK
  • IV – INTRINSIC VISCOSITY
  • LCP – LIQUID CRYSTAL POLYMERS
  • LDPE – LOW-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE
  • LIM – LIQUID INJECTION MOLDING
  • LLDPE – LINEAR LOW-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE
  • LMC – LOW-PRESSURE MOLDING COMPOUND
  • LMW – LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT
  • LP – LOW-PROFILE RESIN
  • M LLDPE – METALLOCENE LLDPE
  • M PP – METALLOCENE PP
  • MA – MALEIC ANHYDRIDE
  • MAP – MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE PACKAGING
  • MbOCA – 3, 3′-DICHLORO-4, 4-DIAMINO-DIPHENYLMETHANE
  • MBS – METHACRYLATE-BUTADIENE-STYRENE
  • MC – METHYL CELLULOSE
  • MDI – METHYLENE DIPHENYLENE DIISOCYANATE
  • MDPE – MEDIUM-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE
  • MEKP – METHYL ETHYL KETONE PEROXIDE
  • MF – MELAMINE FORMALDEHYDE
  • MFI – MELT FLOW INDEX
  • MIS – MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM
  • MMA – METHYL METHACRYLATE MONOMER
  • MPE – METALLOCENE POLYETHYLENES
  • MPF – MELAMINE-PHENOL-FORMALDEHYDE
  • MPR – MELT-PROCESSABLE RUBBER
  • MRP – MANUFACTURING REQUIREMENT PLANNING
  • MW – MOLECULAR WEIGHT
  • MWD – MOLECULAR WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION
  • NBR – NITRILE RUBBER
  • NDI – NAPHTHALENE DIISOCYANATE
  • NDT – NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
  • NIOSH – NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
  • NR – NATURAL RUBBER
  • NVH – NOISE, VIBRATION, HARSHNESS
  • ODP – OZONE DEPLETING POTENTIAL
  • OEM – ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER
  • OFS – ORGANOFUNCTIONAL SILANES
  • OPET – ORIENTED POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE
  • OPP – ORIENTED POLYPROPYLENE
  • OSA – OLEFIN-MODIFIED STYRENE-ACRYLONITRILE
  • OSHA – OCCUPATIONAL SAFTEY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
  • O-TPV – OLEFINIC THERMOPLASTIC VULCANIZATE
  • PA – POLYAMIDE (NYLON)
  • PAEK – POLYARYLETHERKETONE
  • PAI – POLYAMIDE IMIDE
  • PAN – POLYACRYLONITRILE
  • PB – POLYBUTYLENE
  • PBA – PHYSICAL BLOWING AGENT
  • PBAN – POLYBUTADIENE-ACRYLONITRILE
  • PBI – POLYBENZIMIDAZOLE
  • PBN – POLYBUTYLENE NAPHTHALATE
  • PBS – POLYBUTADIENE STYRENE
  • PBT – POLYBUTYLENE TEREPHTHALATE
  • PBTP – POLYBUTYLENE TEREPHTHALATE
  • PC – POLYCARBONATE
  • PCC – PRECIPITATED CALCIUM CARBONATE
  • PCD – POLYCARBODIIMIDE
  • PCR – POST-CONSUMER RECYCLATE
  • PCT – POLYCYCLOHEXYLENEDIMETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE
  • PCTA – COPOLYESTER OF CHDM AND PTA
  • PCTFE – POLYCHLOROTRIFLUOROETHYLENE
  • PCTG – GLYCOL-MODIFIED PCT COPOLYMER
  • PE – POLYETHYLENE
  • PEBA – POLYETHER BLOCK POLYAMIDE
  • PEC – CHLORINATED POLYETHYLENE
  • PEC – POLYPHENYLENE ETHER COPOLYMER
  • PEDT – 3, 4 POLYETHYLENE DIOXITHIOPHENE
  • PEEK – POLYETHERETHERKETONE
  • PEH – POLYPHENYLENE ETHER HOMOPOLYMER
  • PEI – POLYETHER IMIDE
  • PEK – POLYETHERKETONE
  • PEKEKK – POLYETHERKETONEETHERKETONEKETONE
  • PEL – PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE LEVEL
  • PEN – POLYETHYLENE NAPHTHALATE
  • PEO – POLYETHYLENE OXIDE
  • PES – POLYETHER SULFONE
  • PET – POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE
  • PETG – PET MODIFIED WITH CHDM
  • PETP – POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE
  • PF – PHENOL FORMALDEHYDE
  • PFA – PERFLUOROALKOXY RESIN
  • PI – POLYIMIDE
  • PIB – POLYISOBUTYLENE
  • PIBI – BUTYL RUBBER
  • PID – PROPORTIONAL, INTEGRAL, DERIVATIVE
  • PIE – POLYISOBUTYLENE
  • PIM – POWDER INJECTION MOLDING
  • PLC – PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLER
  • PMDI – POLYMERIC METHYLENE DIPHENYLENE DIISOCYANATE
  • PMMA – POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE
  • PMP – POLYMETHYLPENTENE
  • PMS – PARAMETHYLDTYRENE
  • PMT – POLYMETHYLPENTENE
  • PO – POLYOLEFINS

    • P

  • OM – POLYACETAL
  • PP – POLYPROPYLENE
  • PPA – POLYPHTHALAMIDE
  • PPC – CHLORINATED POLYPROPYLENE
  • PPE – POLYPHENYLENE ETHER, MODIFIED
  • ppm – PARTS PER MILLION
  • PPO – POLYPHENYLENE OXIDE
  • PPS – POLYPHENYLENE SULFIDE
  • PPSU – POLYPHENYLENE SULFONE
  • PS – POLYSTYRENE
  • PSU – POLYSULFONE
  • PTA – PURIFIED TEREPHTHALIC ACID
  • PTFE – POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE
  • PU – POLYURETHANE
  • PUR – POLYURETHANE
  • PVC – POLYVINYL CHLORIDE
  • PVCA – POLYVINYL CHLORIDE ACETATE
  • PVDA – POLYVINYLIDENE ACETATE
  • PVDC – POLYVINYLIDENE CHLORIDE
  • PVDF – POLYVINYLIDENE FLUORIDE
  • PVF – POLYVINYL FLUORIDE
  • PVOH – POLYVINYL ALCOHOL
  • QMC – QUICK MOLD CHANGE
  • RFI – RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE
  • RH – RELATIVE HUMIDITY
  • RH – ROCKWELL HARDNESS
  • RHDPE – RECYCLED HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE
  • RIM – REACTION INJECTION MOLDING
  • RMS – ROOT MEAN SQUARE
  • RP – REINFORCED PLASTICS
  • RPET – RECYCLED POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE
  • RTD – RESISTANCE TEMPERATURE DETECTOR
  • RTM – RESIN TRANSFER MOLDING
  • RTV – ROOM TEMPERATURE VULCANIZING
  • SAN – STYRENE ACRYLONITRILE COPOLYMER
  • SB – STYRENE BUTADIENE COPOLYMER
  • SBC – STYRENE BLOCK COPOLYMER
  • SBR – STYRENE BUTADIENE RUBBER
  • SI – SILICONE PLASTIC
  • SI – LE SYSTEME INTERNATIONAL D’UNITES
  • SMA – STYRENE MALEIC ANHYDRIDE
  • SMC – SHEET MOLDING COMPOUND
  • SMC-C – SMC-CONTINUOUS FIBERS
  • SMC-D – SMC-DIRECTIONALLY ORIENTED
  • SMC-R – SMC-RANDOMLY ORIENTED
  • SPC – STATISTICAL PROCESS CONTROL
  • SPE – SOCIETY OF PLASTICS ENGINEERS
  • SQC – STATISTICAL QUALITY CONTROL
  • SRIM – STRUCTURAL REACTION INJECTION MOLDING
  • T/N – TEREPHTHALATE/ NAPHTHALATE
  • TA – TEREPHTHALIC ACID
  • TDI – TOLUENE DIISOCYANATE
  • TEO – THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMERIC OLEFIN
  • TFE – POLYTETRA FLUOROETHYLENE
  • TGA – THERMOGRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS
  • TLCP – THERMOPLASTIC LIQUID CRYSTAL POLYMER
  • TMA – THERMOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS
  • TMC – THICK MOLDING COMPOUND
  • TP – THERMOPLASTIC
  • TPA – TEREPHTHALIC ACID
  • TPE – THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMER
  • TPO – THERMOPLASTIC OLEFINS
  • TPU – THERMOPLASTIC POLYURETHANE
  • TPV – THERMOPLASTIC VULCANIZATE
  • TS – THERMOSET
  • TWA – TIME-WEIGHTED AVERAGE
  • UF – UREA FORMALDEHYDE
  • UHM – ULTRA-HIGH MODULUS
  • UHMW – ULTRAHIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT
  • UL – UNDERWRITER’S LABORATORIES
  • ULDPE – ULTRALOW-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE
  • UP – UNSATURATED POLYESTER RESIN
  • UR – URETHANE
  • UV – ULTRAVIOLET
  • VA(C) – VINYL ACETATE
  • VAE – VINYL ACETATE-ETHYLENE
  • VC – VINYL CHLORIDE
  • VDC – VINYLIDENE CHLORIDE
  • VLDPE – VERY LOW-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE
  • VOC – VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
  • ZNC – ZIEGLER-NATTA CATALYST

Injection Mold – Acronymn Useage

Plastic injection mold acronymns are used in the business of injection molding. These terms appear in articles, blog posts, contracts, letters and specifications. This blog post is intended to list the most commonly used acronymns in the plastic injection mold business.

To learn more about Injection Mold from Total Solution Plastic visit our website, or use our Contact Form to email us.

Franklin Spears
Total Solution Plastic
7613 Pats Branch Drive
Raleigh, NC 27612
919-900-8801

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: , , ,

Better Plastic Injection Mold Sourcing. Is It Worth The Trouble?

August 1, 2011 by

Low Cost Injection Mold

Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) have to be good at what they do to survive in the global economy. To achieve this many demand that their suppliers have state-of-the-art molding equipment and procedures. OEMs can purchase some of the world’s best plastic materials from American manufacturers. When it comes to buying injection mold, OEMs have shown a preference for low-cost over high quality. This is counterproductive, as world-class molding requires a state-of-the-art injection mold.

They have been seeking low cost Injection Molds from China, India and many other low cost centers for some years now. China has put in the necessary infrastructure to support the mold building industry in the Shenzhen area. In spite of that fact, lower cost shops have opened in other areas like Shanghai, Dongguan in Guangdong, and Huangyan. Labor costs are lower and so is the skill of the workers. It is my professional opinion that no-one should ever gamble and go to areas beyond Shenzhen if they are seeking high level craftsmanship and Injection Molds that will last as per SPI Standards.

OEMs and Molders receive spam email each day soliciting their mold business. Many of these emails come from minor shops of which reside in areas that are not well supported. As long as everything goes well, it may be ok… but when there are issues, these shops do not have the technical ability nor the financial where withal to support it. We often hear customers talking about how badly they were hurt by a China shop. When this is explored further, you find that many times they went to small, unsupported, financially unstable shops which presented to them a very attractive cost. The cost did not end up low.. but very late and very expensive for the repairs. Total cost of acquisition can be deceiving.

Injection Mold – Total Solution Plastic

This is why it is extremely important to deal with Hybrid shops like Total Solution Plastic that has been to China, met the people and qualified the shop. Agreements are in place to support each other and ultimately our customer. This may cost a little more than going to the lower cost centers, but Quality Assurance, Financial Stability and Project Management is paramount when making such an important decision for your company.

Injection Mold – Ontime, Low Cost, and High Quality

To learn more about Injection Mold from Total Solution Plastic visit our website, or use our Contact Form to email us.

Franklin Spears
Total Solution Plastic
7613 Pats Branch Drive
Raleigh, NC 27612
919-900-8801

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