How Does an Injection Moulding Machine Work?
An injection moulding machine is a complex piece of machinery that creates one solid piece by injecting molten materials through a reciprocating screw system into a mould. This machine is made of many components; it is primarily consisted of a hopper, a barrel containing a reciprocating screw, temperature control devices, a clamping unit and the injection mould itself. The process begins with the creation of a mould. The mould is created by the Toolmakers from the specifications given to them from the designer or engineer via a 3D computer-generated model. The mould is carefully constructed to allow the two halves of the mould – the mould cavity and the mould core – to separate along the parting line. This will allow easy ejection from the injection moulding machine when the part has cooled. If the mould is designed incorrectly the part may catch on the mould, resulting in possible damage. The specifications and components of the machine must be carefully set up before the process of i