Injection Molding is one process used for mass production of thermoplastic parts. The resins are heated and injected into a closed mold, cooled to solidify into the shape machined into the mold, then ejected as either a finished part or can undergo further manufacturing steps.
Questions often asked about injection molding and automation. As always, we are here to answer any other questions you have through the contact form or directly by phone.
What services and products do you manufacture?
Noble is a product realization company. We can design for manufacture, convert designs for metals to plastics, prototype, source tooling, mold thermoplastic products, design and build automation systems to facilitate the molding of products, and offer complete turn-key services for the whole range of services listed.
Why do businesses need strategic sourcing?
Noble has been a successful addition for clients looking to reshore product manufacturing, particularly to position them for strategic success. The challenges of material supply, transportation, and workforce shortages are hitting around the globe. Our automation, relationship strength, and technical tools serve to make confident those businesses looking for both domestic and overseas options for manufacturing.
Should software engineers be involved in product decisions?
For products that require firmware or a software application, input from software engineers is critical. If you add a button to a product, the software designer/engineer has to be able to make that button work as the product designer wants it to. Product development is a collaborative effort and anyone who has a responsibility in any stage of the development from idea to putting it in the box for the customer should be involved in product decisions. Roles can be small or larger but all have an impact.
How is your customer service better than other companies?
Noble’s first core value is Do What You Say. For customer service, that means that even when something goes wrong, tenacity to seek solutions and communicate options are key. We can’t guarantee that machinery won’t break, deliveries won’t be delayed, or people won’t get sick, but we can guarantee that each order matters to our team and we take seriously our responsibility to keep customers up to date.
What are the steps of the quality assurance cycle?
Noble employs several measurements and verification systems. Parts might be confirmed by process monitoring, automatic camera validation, operator measurements, specialized testing apparatus, gages, and final release from the Quality Control team.
What is TQM?
TQM stands for Total Quality Management. TQM is a culture in which everyone from high-level executives to level workers focuses on improving quality. Quality is EVERYONE’S job!
What materials do we use? Which ones do we NOT use?
Noble has experience will all common commodity resins but has specific expertise in engineering grade resins with fiberglass and carbon fiber fillers. Noble does not mold PVC.
What are the best applications for injection molding?
Injection Molding is usually the most economical method for high-volume parts with features in all 3 dimensions. If only two dimensions are key, parts are generally stamped from sheets or formed in other methods. If parts are essentially long and uniform like pipe or boards, they are generally extruded.
What are ideal and minimum quantities for injection molding?
There is no universal rule for minimum quantities when considering injection molding. Generally, with tools costing at least $10,000 for the smallest and simplest parts, production volumes of a few dozen parts or even a few hundred parts can rarely carry a proportion of the capital cost of the molds. It is not uncommon for injection molds to cost between $50,000 and $500,000. In this range, it is expected that production volumes would be at 10,000 units and up.