A complete guide to the properties, applications, and molding of ABS — for engineers and buyers choosing the right material. If you are an engineer selecting a resin, a product manager weighing cost against performance, or a buyer sourcing a molder, this guide explains what ABS is, how it behaves, where it excels, and when […]
Rules for applying draft to injection molded parts — by surface type, material, and texture depth. Draft is the taper applied to surfaces parallel to the mold opening direction — typically vertical walls when the mold opens vertically. Without draft, the molded part grips the mold core and cavity as it shrinks during cooling. Ejection
The fundamental difference between thermoplastics and thermosets — and what it means for injection molding process selection and part design. The most fundamental distinction in plastic material science is the difference between thermoplastics and thermosets. Understanding which type of material you are working with determines the manufacturing process, tooling requirements, processing parameters, and end-use limitations
Thermoplastic vs. Thermoset Materials: How They Differ and Which to Choose for Your Part Read More »
10 common injection molding defects — what causes each one, how to identify it, and how to prevent it through design and process control. Injection molding defects cost time and money. Some are immediately visible; others only show up in service under load, temperature cycling, or chemical exposure, and can undermine confidence in the finished
10 Common Injection Molding Defects: What Causes Them and How to Prevent Each One Read More »
A side-by-side comparison of two multi-material injection molding processes — when to use each and what each requires from the part design. Insert molding and overmolding are both multi-material injection molding processes that produce a single molded part integrating more than one material. Engineers frequently ask which manufacturing process to use between overmolding and insert
Insert Molding vs. Overmolding: What is the Difference ? Read More »
A guide to SPI standards, Mold-Tech textures, and how to specify the right surface finish for your injection molded part. The surface finish of an injection molded part is determined directly by the surface finish of the mold cavity. Polish the mold to a mirror, and the molded part will have a mirror-like surface. Texture
Injection Molding Surface Finishes: A Guide to Mold-Tech Textures Read More »
Properties, advantages, disadvantages, and injection molding considerations for glass-fiber-reinforced nylon. Glass-filled nylon is polyamide reinforced with chopped glass fibers — typically 15%, 30%, or 50% by weight — that dramatically improve stiffness, strength, and dimensional stability compared to unfilled nylon. It is one of the most widely used engineering thermoplastics in injection molding for applications
Glass-Filled Nylon: How It Works, Pros & Cons, and Key Molding Considerations Read More »
Material properties, injection molding considerations, and applications for Delrin — one of the most dimensionally stable engineering plastics. Delrin is DuPont’s trade name for acetal homopolymer (polyoxymethylene, POM) — a semi-crystalline engineering thermoplastic that delivers exceptional dimensional stability, a naturally low coefficient of friction, high surface hardness, and excellent fatigue and impact resistance. It is
What is Delrin (POM Acetal)? Definition & Material Properties Read More »
12 design rules that reduce tooling cost, improve part quality, and shorten development cycles — from the engineers at Texas Injection Molding. Design for Manufacturability (DFM) in injection molding is the practice of designing parts with the constraints and capabilities of the injection molding process in mind from the beginning. Parts designed without DFM principles
DFM for Injection Molding: 12 Design Rules Read More »
Understanding tooling cost, piece price, and the key factors driving injection molding program economics. Injection molding cost has two distinct components that must be understood separately: tooling cost, the one-time investment to build the mold, and piece price, the per-part cost to run production. Conflating them leads to poor sourcing decisions — either over-investing in
How Much Does Injection Molding Cost? Estimating Costs for Tooling & Parts Read More »
