
Ⅲ.
Explanation of Molding
The plastic parts made by these molding techniques have some characteristics. You can find
them on the parts used for this robot as well as other plastic parts around your house. Here,
the typical phenomena is explained in the case of injection molding.
・
Gate
In injection molding, there must be a gate to pour in the plastic. The solid plastic taken out of
the molds has the extra amount at the gate and it will be cut off to finish the part. Therefore,
the plastic part made by injection molding has a remain of the gate. Let’s try to find the marks
of the gates on the various plastic parts. Since cutting off the extra plastic at the gate makes a
mark on the plastic part, the gate is often located at the position, where it will not be noticed.
・
Parting line
The melted plastic will be pressed into the molds to spread all over the inside. Though the
molds are joined tightly, there will be partings between the molds, and the melted plastic will
get into there, making the line on the surface. This line is called the parting line. Since the
parting of the molds makes this line, it is usually designed to in such a way that the parting
lines will not be noticeable on the finished product.
2. Molded Plastic Parts
●
The characteristics of injection molding
A remain of the gate :
Melted plastic was poured in here.
Parting line
The part where the
molds meet.
・
Gate
・
Parting line
Ⅲ.
Explanation of Molding
・
Weld line
As explained in the previous pages, the molds have the shape exactly opposite of the plastic
part. Therefore, to make a projection on the plastic, the mold must have a hole for it, and to
make a hole in the plastic, the mold needs to have a pin for it. When the mold has the pin, it
will divide the stream of the melted plastic. But the divided streams will soon join again
passing around the pin, leaving a trace of the juncture. This trace is called a weld line. When
you look at the plastic surface around the hole made by the pin on the mold, you may be able
to find the line grown from the hole. The mold surface is also designed to have a good flow of
the melted plastic to avoid making the weld line.
・
Shrinkage
Plastic shrinks a little when it hardens. How much it shrinks depends on the material and the
thickness of the plastic. When the thickness of the plastic is uneven, a thicker portion will
shrink more than other portions. The shrinkage differential affects not only the appearance
but also the size of the plastic part. To prevent this, the molds are designed to make the
thickness of plastic even.
・
Weld line
Weld line
Pin on the mold
Juncture
Flow of the
plastic
・
Shrinkage
A thicker portion shrinks
more and makes a de-
pression on the surface.
Adjusting the thickness
makes the plastic shrink
evenly.
Shrink mark
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