Designing for Moldability

Dear Desktop Engineering Reader:

Are you an old hand at designing for injection molding or do you think that “shrink tolerance” means an aversion to psychotherapists? No matter which side of the plate you're on, the white paper at the far side of today's Check it Out link should appeal to you.

Hats off to the people at Proto Labs, the manufacturer of 3D-printed, milled and injection molded custom prototypes and low-volume production parts, responsible for “Designing for Moldability.” This paper is informative, data-packed and as entertaining as any you're going to run into. The paper's subtitle is “Volume 1: A Rapid Injection Molding Reference Guide for Product Designers and Engineers.” Volume two has a tough act to follow.

There's no fat or nuance in this paper, but there's a lot of wit. More on that in a sec.

Once you open the cover, you'll meet the format of the entire work: A short, point-by-point explanation of the topic at hand. Initially, this is a five-point technical synopsis of the injection molding process accompanied by a simplified illustration of a typical apparatus. This is followed by a similar discussion of rapid injection mold fabrication, applications and markets. Two pages in and you're prepped to sound intelligent chit-chatting at your homeowners' association Halloween cocktail party.

The paper then briskly steps its way through the major design considerations for injection molding. That means things like corners, draft, wall thickness, core cavities and so on. It gets into thermoplastic material selections with their major pros and cons all spelled out. Colors and resin additives also get covered.

Such a rapid pace could quickly become tiresome without a deft hand at the keyboard. To keep you reading to the end, the writer approaches subjects with a punny attitude. For example, the discussion on warp gets called “A Warped Personality.” It's then followed by “Up Against the Wall (Thickness)” and “Good and Bad Bosses.” A bunch more will make you groan and anticipate the next.

A new white paper from Proto Labs, “Designing for Moldability” offers a thorough overview of the injection molding process as well as insights and tips that'll help you design better prototype parts. Image courtesy of Proto Labs Inc.

Ostensibly aimed at Proto Labs' injection molding clients, “Designing for Moldability, Volume 1: A Rapid Injection Molding Reference Guide for Product Designers and Engineers” is for anybody designing for injection molding. It's filled with tips, easy-to-grasp details and the basic information that you'll need as you approach a project. It’s well-written, well-illustrated and well worth your time. Hit today's Check it Out link to download your complimentary copy.

Thanks, Pal. – Lockwood

Anthony J. Lockwood

Editor at Large, Desktop Engineering

Download “Designing for Moldability” here.