Shaping liquid plastic resins into solid, usable objects and parts is a modern science that is commonly performed using an injection molding machine. The machines come in various sizes, with the size of the machine determined by the desired dimensions of the finished product. Invented in 1872, the injection molding process revolutionized the plastics industry. It is currently a multi-billion dollar business that produces about 32% by weight of all the world’s plastics. Its popularity is credited to the injection molding process, and the machines that make millions of consumer products and manufacturing parts and components that are affordable, yet strong and long-lasting.
The injection molding machine construction and operation are fairly simple. The machine consists of six basic parts. The major components of the machine include a hopper where the raw materials are inserted, a barrel to carry the materials to the heating unit, a heater to break down the materials into liquid, a nozzle to pump the liquid into the mold, a clamping unit to solidify the shape, and an ejector to expel the finished product.
