The Design Engineer’s Checklist for Injection Molding (.PDF Download)

Injection molding is a highly-engineered process that demands careful planning and attention to detail if the finished product is to achieve its full potential. The tips in this article should help designers and engineers understand some of the basics about injection molding, so that they and the injection molder can work together to make the best possible decisions during the part design and development process.

Where to Begin?

• The first step in designing any injection molded part is answering some basic questions:
• What function(s) will the part serve?
• What market(s) will it serve? (automotive, industrial, medical, housewares, food containers, etc.)
• What kind of design project is it? (A new part or product? A part redesign?)
• Who are the “stakeholders” in this part design project? Included in this group are all suppliers in the chain of production, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), the sales and marketing teams, and other companies that add value to the part. Each link in this stakeholder chain will often have its own set of requirements for the part’s design. If you can identify these early, you will save time, money, and rework later.