Which parts can be made by injection molding?
A variety of parts can be made by injection molding. Examples are such items as automotive components, intake manifolds, dashboard switches and knobs; medical parts such as syringes or surgical devices; appliance housings, electrical circuit boards, bottle caps, toys, jewel boxes and components of portable pottyes. Parts as heavy as over few hundred pounds can be made with this process as well as very small miniature components weighing a tenth of a gram or less.With injection molding it is possible to coat metal parts with plastic; examples are tool handles such as screwdrivers or hammers. It is also possible to mold plastic around threaded inserts that can be used to secure plastic parts to their final assembly positions.
Features included in injection molded parts could be :
- Snap fits for permanent assemblies
- Snap fits for movable components
- Living hinges
- Threads
- Threaded inserts
- Press fittings
Injection molded parts can also be designed to be assembled by ultrasonic welding, thermal welding or gluing.
