Molded plastic parts are typically produced from low to mid-volume molding. Low-volume or mid-volume refers to the number of units being created at once. The injection molding technique produces parts from a single material, allowing for cost savings and improved efficiency.
Choosing the best production method for each project
Injection Molding (IM) is a manufacturing technology where the plastic material is injected into a cavity formed between two halves of a tool called injection mold. The plastic is then cooled and ejected out of the cavity after filling.
- Low-volume injection molding (LVIM) is a technique used to produce plastic parts that are too small to be produced using conventional injection molding. Typically, LVIM processes use low volumes of molten material (between 1-50 liters), resulting in extremely thin walls and complex shapes that cannot be molded using traditional methods.
While LVIM has been around since the 1950s, it was only recently that the technology became commercially viable due to materials science and computer-aided design advances. - Mid-volume injection molding (MVIM) is a type of injection molding where large quantities of molten material are injected into molds (100-1000 liters). MVIM is often used for prototyping purposes but can also be used to make large plastic parts.
One example of this is the production of fuel tanks for cars. By injecting plastic into large molds, manufacturers can create large pieces at a fraction of the cost of other manufacturing techniques. - High-volume injection molding (HVIM) is similar to MVIM but involves larger volumes of molten material (at least 100 liters). HVIM produces more significant parts than MVIM but requires additional equipment and technical expertise to operate. This method is typically used for mass-producing commercial items like car bumpers and truck beds.
Have a better result with ARRK’s specialized service
ARRK’s team has seen low-volume manufacturing (LVM) as an emerging process in industrial design because it helps create fully functional products.
Among the different manufacturing processes and needs in each industry, the best outcome is a company that provides production efficiency. To make your ideas a reality, they need to go beyond the manufacturing process, and you need a team of dedicated engineers, craftsmanship, and developers for that. Complex products are better manufactured with ARRK’s guidance and product development services.
