Mold: Injection Molding Glossary
- The tool used in injection molding, consisting of a cavity (female part) and a core (male part) that shapes the molten plastic into the desired form.
Clamping Unit:
- The part of an injection molding machine that holds the mold halves together and opens and closes the mold during the molding cycle.
Injection Unit:
- The component of the injection molding machine that melts and injects the plastic material into the mold. It includes the hopper, barrel, and screw.
Hopper:
- A container that holds the raw plastic pellets before they are fed into the injection unit.
Barrel:
- The heated chamber where plastic pellets are melted and mixed before being injected into the mold.
Screw:
- A rotating component within the barrel that pushes the molten plastic forward and injects it into the mold.
Sprue:
- The main channel through which the molten plastic flows from the injection unit into the mold cavity.
Runner:
- Channels in the mold that guide the molten plastic from the sprue to the individual cavities within the mold.
Gate:
- The small opening through which molten plastic enters the mold cavity from the runner system.
Cavity:
- The hollow space within the mold that shapes the injected plastic into the desired part.
- Cooling Time:
- The period during which the injected plastic cools and solidifies inside the mold before the part is ejected.
- Ejector Pins:
- Pins in the mold that push the cooled and solidified part out of the mold cavity once the molding cycle is complete.
