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5 Common Mistakes For Injection Molding Part Design

Make sure you avoid these five common mistakes when designing for injection molding.

Xomety X
By Team Xometry
October 6, 2020
 2 min read
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Another process Xometry offers is plastic injection molding. Injection molding is a viable solution for making high-quality parts in vast quantities with many thermoplastics. For more information, see Xometry’s part design guidelines and injection molding options on our website. If you’re designing for injection molding, here are 5 common mistakes I have seen from designers and engineers over the years.

Not adding draft

Draft is needed in the mold to release the plastic part from the mold. Plastic generally shrinks towards the center of the part. Without draft, the part will stick in the mold and will not eject correctly. Design in 1° per side if possible, but any draft will be helpful to release the part.

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Draft angles
Draft angles
Draft angles

Draft angles

Uneven wall thicknesses

Varying Wall Sections are common in part designs and can cause unintended part properties when molding. Plastics have a hard time flowing and transitioning between uneven wall thicknesses. Thick wall sections create differential shrinkage which may lead to part deflection. Try to keep the walls at least thicker at the gate area and thinner at the end-of-fill. Shoot for .080-.120” wall thickness and utilize ribs and gusset features in your part design.

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Wall Thickness should be R2 = R1 + Thickness
Wall Thickness should be R2 = R1 + Thickness
Wall Thickness should be R2 = R1 + Thickness

Wall Thickness should be R2 = R1 + Thickness

Unnecessary undercuts

Undercuts are designed-in, and often overlooked due to the complex nature of part design today. An undercut in the mold will need to be released before the part ejects or it will tear the feature out. There are many ways to release the undercuts with thru-coring design, slides, cores or lifters in the mold action. Simple rule for tooling: Undercuts+complex mold= more money.

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A part with a likely unnecessary undercut
A part with a likely unnecessary undercut
A part with a likely unnecessary undercut

A part with a likely unnecessary undercut. These will dramatically increase costs.

Choosing the wrong materials

Material Selection is another common mistake I see. Material should be chosen based on where the part will live. Parts that will live outside should have UV stabilizers in them to prevent cracking. Parts that are under load, should have a filler in them like fiberglass to strengthen the part. Parts that have a bearing surface should have an additive like a lubricant.

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Injection molding pellets
Injection molding pellets
Injection molding pellets

Injection molding pellets

Not embracing radii

Corner Radius is often overlooked in the part design. Corner radii strengthens that area and makes it more robust in the long term. Radii reduces stress concentrations and fractures in the plastic part. It also makes the part look aesthetically pleasing and lowers any risk of injury when handling.

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A part with corner radii
A part with corner radii
A part with corner radii

A part with corner radii

Xomety X
Team Xometry
This article was written by various Xometry contributors. Xometry is a leading resource on manufacturing with CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, 3D printing, injection molding, urethane casting, and more.