PlastiCert

Injection molding solutions

www-award-logo-16-win
(507) 523-2300
ISO 9001:2015 Certified
UL Registered
Do you have a problem part/design? Send us what you have, we will take a look and offer up some advice.
(507) 523-2300
ISO 9001:2015 Certified
UL Registered
Do you have a problem part/design? Send us what you have, we will take a look and offer up some advice.

Follow us on LinkedIn!Follow us on Twitter!

  • Who WE ARE
    • About PlastiCert
    • PlastiCert Mission Statement
    • Key Company Individuals
    • News
  • What WE DO
    • Overview of Capabilities
    • Small and Short Run Production
    • FAQ
    • Begin a Discussion
  • Who WE WORK with
    • Testimonials
  • BLOG
  • CAREERS
  • CONTACT US

September 3, 2014 By craig

Balance is good, balance is key!

So yes, we watched some movies and TV in the 80’s. Mr. Miyagi’s advice in the movie The Karate Kid came to mind the other day when we were talking shop here at PlastiCert. “Better learn balance. Balance is key. Balance good, karate good. Everything good. Balance bad, better pack up, go home. Understand?” He was driving home to his student that first you have to attain balance, and things will fall into place. Then you have to work to maintain it, or things will fall apart.

We were talking about it in the context of mold design and multi-cavity orientation. Whether designing multiple cavities of the same part or a number of different cavities in a “family” mold, the melt flow needs to be balanced or the plastic filling the mold will encounter difficulties. While some cavities will fill correctly, others may encounter short shots, or possibly over packing (flash). A problem since multi-cavity molding came about, it has been dealt with from all angles. From the basic design of runners and gates, to mold accessories that help achieve balance through manipulating temperatures and flow.

If you are designing a component or group of components to be injection molded such that they will be in the same multi-cavity mold, know that component complexity aside, just having multiple cavities induces complexity.

The moral of this story is if you are looking at a multi-cavity mold design; work with your mold shop as up front as possible. Make sure that the injection molder (if a separate entity from the mold shop) is on board and in agreement with the cavitation and runner design having achieved balance. An optimum scenario would involve having the mold designer and injection molding under the same roof to help alleviate the over-the-wall syndrome. Remember, balance is good, parts are good!

 

Similar articles:

When the name of the game is your name on the game

The key to the gate, location is everything.

Root cause drill down, needs to include the mold!

Knowing your mold makes life a lot easier

Making sure the horse is before the cart.

The Golden Rule of plastic part design

Is it the part design or the mold?

PT 2015 WCP Logo

Click to Start Discussion

Join Our Email List

For Email Newsletters you can trust.
 

Company News

PlastiCert continues spending spree  

Lewiston, MN January 6, 2021 - PlastiCert, a veteran of innovative and quality plastic injection molding design and … [Read More...]

PlastiCert pronounced a TOP SHOP, AGAIN

Lewiston, MN October 12, 2020 - PlastiCert, a veteran of innovative and quality plastic injection molding design and … [Read More...]

[MORE NEWS]

Blog

Rising to the occasion

Spring has sprung, the blossoms have returned, the sports cars are out of storage, the Winter Championships are done … [Read More...]

PlastiCert loves upsets

The NCAA Basketball tournaments are underway and to date there have been numerous upsets, some ruining millions of … [Read More...]

[MORE POSTS]

  • What we do
  • Who we are
  • Who we work with
  • Begin a Discussion
  • Careers at PlastiCert
  • Privacy Policy

(507) 523-2300

PlastiCert Inc.
300 Wilson Street N.
P.O. Box 670
Lewiston, MN 55952

© 2021 PlastiCert Inc. All rights reserved. | Employees

Website design & hosting by Vision Design Group, Inc.