Miniature & Micro Molding
Miniaturization of parts and complete assemblies is a world-wide phenomenon.
To keep up with this growing trend, manufacturing systems have also had to evolve to cost effectively produce these components:
- Precision molding to very fine tolerances of extremely small parts and components, usually in unfilled or reinforced engineering plastics.
- Parts can be as small as 1 cubic millimeter with weights of 0.1 to 0.01 grams or less.
- Tools have special requirements:
- Material must move in and out of the cavities very fast and the injection molding machine must be able to deliver very high injection pressures and
- Parts must typically have zero flash.
Designing and constructing the tools used to manufacture miniature and micro-sized parts, requires different and specialized equipment and techniques than are typically used in conventional tool building operations.
Precision micro molding requires good planning, it needs to start very early in the process. We suggest working with our Advance Project Team while the product is still in the design stage. Entire mold and part designs have changed based upon a good understanding of the requirements of the part.
Your part tolerance may have different interpretations. To the part designer it means functional limitations, to the mold designer it means tool fabrication variation allowance. The molder looks at it as production tolerance. Careful planning and measurement techniques are required to assure alignment between these different understandings. This is universal, but with micro molding, measuring techniques can be even more difficult. Just due to the very size of these parts, some offer challenges to develop a repeatable measurement. Metrology may include non-contact visual measurement scopes, contact methods such as 0.0001” pins gages, micrometers, and attribute gauges.
To learn more how Empire can help you with your micro applications follow
this link: Contact Us, or
call 800-541-7135.