Plastic Parts Design

Plastic Parts Design

Plastic part design plays a critical role in the manufacturing of quality plastic products.plastic parts design An experienced design engineer can make recommendations that will help to reduce overall costs, improve product functionality, and increase the durability of the finished plastic part. Some key design considerations include the materials that will be used, the loads and stresses that the part will experience, toxicity and chemical resistance requirements, and assembly and fastening methods.

The first step in designing a new plastic part is to determine the end-use requirements.plastic parts design This will guide the selection of the appropriate plastics and the screening process. A good plastic design will also include a comparison of different processing methods and how they affect the final physical properties of the part.

Once the appropriate plastics are selected, the designers can begin to formulate the actual design of the part.plastic parts design Some important considerations include:

Wall thickness

The wall thickness of a plastic part is an important factor that has a direct impact on the strength of the finished product.plastic parts design Creating thick walls can reduce internal stress due to shrinkage, which can lead to deformation, cracking, or collapse. On the other hand, thin walls are more susceptible to stress, which can compromise the integrity and durability of the product.

Choosing the appropriate wall thickness depends on the load and stress that will be placed on the finished plastic part. Experienced design engineers will take into account the expected loads and stresses and select an appropriate wall thickness.

Gates

The gates of a plastic mold are the points at which liquid resin flows into the mold to form a part. The type and location of the gates influence the orientation of the polymer molecules within the finished part and how they will shrink during cooling, which in turn affects the strength of the finished plastic parts.

Ribs

The presence of ribs in a plastic part can be helpful to improve the strength of the finished part. However, it is important that the ribs are properly designed to ensure that they do not cause sink marks. The height of a rib should not exceed 2/3 of the wall thickness, and it is often necessary to core out material at the base of a rib to avoid sinking.

Ejector Pins

The ejector pins (located on the B-side/core of the mold) are what allows plastic parts to be released from the mold. They need to be carefully positioned in the plastic part’s design to ensure that they are in a position to open and eject the parts without damage or indentations.

Interference Fits

Interference fits, which connect holes and shafts in plastic parts, are effective for transmitting torque and other forces. They must be designed correctly, however, to ensure that they are not too tight, which can create unreliable connections and reduce the life of the part. Too loose, on the other hand, can increase assembly times and lead to misalignment.