When it comes to molding techniques, the two prominent ones that come to mind at first are blow molding and injection molding. But before considering or selecting any molding technique for your next project, you must take into consideration all the important aspects and details of both procedures.
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Here, we have provided a detailed study of both the types of molding techniques, i.e., blow molding and injection molding followed by their cost structure. In addition, this blog also talks about the different raw materials, characteristics, custom injection molding cost, and the things that one needs to know before selecting between the blow and injection molding.
Blow molding is a type of molding technique used to make hollow plastic products like plastic bottles. This type of molding has its roots in the glass blow molding industry. Here, a thermoplastic molten tube, commonly known as parison is poured into a mold cavity and with the help of compressed air, it is inflated to take the shape of the mold but it remains hollow inside.
Blow molding has several advantages of its own:
It allows the freedom of shapes which means that blow molding can be used to form varied shaped and sized articles
It is economical in cost and increases the production capacity of industries since blow molds take a shorter time to form
There’s no need to connect two halves to make a single product helping information of various shapes that plastic injection molding cannot do.
There are three types of blow molding known as extrusion blow molding, injection blow molding, and injection stretch blow molding. Their cost also differs depending on this, however, there is only a slight variation of cost between the three. The cost of blow molding depends on the weight of the parison used in the production.
On average, an extrusion blow mold of a single cavity is as cheap as $3000 whereas a multi-cavity extrusion blow mold can go up to $25000 which is expensive but it comes with enough efficiency to return the profits and cover up the initial cost.
Injection blow molds are more expensive than extrusion blow molds. They cost somewhere between $4700- $40000 but they can go as high as $89500 too. The production capacity increases as the price goes higher.
Injection stretch blow molding machines can cost between $25000 to $45000. With the price increment, the output capacity, as well as other features, are also improved which can cut labor costs and boost profit.
As the name suggests, injection molding is a process where plastic pellets are melted and injected into hollow molds under high temperatures and extreme pressure. Then, it is allowed to solidify to get the mold of the desired shape.
Thus, it produces solid articles and is not hollow.
Injection molding can be performed with a variety of raw materials like thermoplastic, clear polystyrene plastic, thermosetting polymers, and even glass and metal.
The advantages of injection molding are:
It is a relatively faster method of efficiently producing large numbers of various identical plastic products
Provides the freedom of molding many materials and having different colors
The scrap rate and labor costs are low. In addition, product strength is also higher
Injection molds are more precise which makes this process expensive. As injection molding takes place at high temperatures and pressure, the cost of injection molding mainly depends on the amount of “tonnage pressure” that keeps the mold intact.
Injection molding is comparatively expensive as compared to blow molding since the process is complicated. On average, the cost of injection molding could range anywhere between a few thousand dollars to eighty thousand dollars depending on their specific features. The cost also depends on the material which is molded.
A single cavity mold can be purchased between $3000 to $6000 while multi-cavity molds can go above $90,000 depending on the production capacity. Indeed, the initial costs are high, but the large production capacity with speed and precision is what reaps profits.
Before selecting either of the two methods, it is important to consider a few pointers that would help you arrive at a better decision.
Type of Mould: If you want a single-piece, flexible and hollow mold such as plastic bottles, children’s outdoor toys, etc. then blow molding is for you. Plastic injection molding is ideal for the large-scale production of highly-engineered products.
Type of Machinery and Process: Blow molding requires less precision and the process is easier than that of plastic injection molding. The mold-making process is complex in the latter but once the mold is in place, you have fairly less work to do. However, in blow molding, secondary processes are required for giving the finishing touch to the mold.
Cost: If you want to have low-tech, single-piece components under a budget, blow molding should be considered whereas, for complex, high-tech, and high strength products, injection molding is the best.
Injection and blow molding are plastic manufacturing processes for making parts with commercial and industrial applications. Both processes are different, although often confused for each other due to the word “molding.” As a result, plastic molding enthusiasts need to understand the blow molding vs injection molding comparison and know the differences between the two processes to accurately decide on the right one.
This article introduces blow and injection molding, their applications and advantages, then discuss the differences between blow molding and injection molding.
Blow molding is a plastic molding process that is similar to glassblowing. The process begins by heating the raw plastic material to a certain temperature (depending on the plastic). Afterward, an extrusion machine extrudes the heated plastic material to form a hollow tube, a.k.a parison.
The operator places the parison in a prepared mold and blows air (pressure of about 80psi) to the mold. As a result, the parison expands in the mold, taking its shape. On cooling, the plastic sets and forms the hollow parts according to the mold design. Delegating then occurs.
There are three types of blow molding:
· Injection Blow Molding
This involves using a blow or core rod to inject the parison into the mold cavity. As a result, the parison will have a test-tube shape. Upon insertion into the mold, the air is blown to the parison to take the shape of the mold.
· Extrusion Blow Molding
There are two variations: continuous or intermittent. On the one hand, the continuous variant involves constantly feeding the parison to mold and cutting it off with a blade on cooling. On the other hand, intermittent variant expels the molded part before inserting a new parison. As a result, the intermittent variant is less expensive and takes less time.
· Injection Stretch Blow Molding
This combines injection and blows molding processes to make a plastic part. The process starts with making a solid pre-form using injection molding. Afterward, a machine heats the pre-form and blows air into it.
The blow molding process has the following advantages:
It has a lower production cost in comparison with injection molding
It has a low initial machine investment
It eliminates the need for a two-part mold component
It has great part design flexibility
Blow molding is highly cost-effective and functionally effective. Consequently, it is an important process in making uniform and thin-walled hollow components. Small businesses in industries such as automotive, consumer products, medical parts, pharmaceuticals, etc., use it in making hollow parts such as bottles, water tanks, etc.
Injection molding involves using precision molds and tooling to manufacture solid plastic parts. The mold is the component with the final product’s design made from materials such as steel and aluminum using a high precision and tolerance process such as CNC machining.
On designing and manufacturing the mold, the injection process starts. The first stage involves melting the injection molding material at a very high temperature (depending on the plastic polymer). Furthermore, the operator injects the molten plastic into the mold at high pressure. After injection, cooling occurs to harden the plastic polymer, and then ejection occurs. You can also subject the part to a surface finishing process.
Injection molding has the following advantages:
Development of highly detailed molds with multi-cavity options
It has a high precision
It is cost-effective for high-volume production
It has great material flexibility, color options, and efficiency
Injection molding is applicable in the volume production of solid parts with great details and high precision. For example, container caps, combs, and mobile phone cases. It is also applicable in the automotive parts and medical parts manufacturing industry.
Understanding the blow vs injection molding comparison can only be effective by understanding their differences. Below are a few differences between blow molding and injection molding and how to tailor them to your project.
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One of the major blow vs injection molding comparisons concerns the molding process. Injection molding involves sealing the plastic in the injection chamber and injecting it into an already prepared mold. Consequently, the plastic is in the injection chamber and the mold throughout the injection process.
On the other hand, blow molding involves heating the plastic and blowing air using an plastic extrusion machine to form the hollowed tube or parison. Afterward, the parison is placed in the mold, and air blowing continues till the final product forms.
Key takeaway
Injection molding does not use air because it can lead to the formation of air pockets in molded plastic parts.
Another major distinction in the injection molding vs blow molding comparison concerns the mold. Injection molds should be highly precise for the accurate flow of molten plastic material on injection. Hence, the use of CNC machining.
Due to the mold’s precision, injection molding is suitable for molding plastic parts with complex designs. Also, the molds come from strong and durable materials, ensuring repeatability without losing quality.
On the other hand, molds used in blow molding have better design flexibility. In contrast to injection molding designing the mold is not an issue. The issue is more with the molding process, where issues such as air leaks, wall thinning, streaks, and flashes occur.
Both processes are compatible with a wide range of materials. However, choosing a material depends on its complexity and desired properties. Hence, the need for professional guidance.
Blow molding is majorly used for soft and flexible plastics such as Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), and Polypropylene (PP). On the other hand, injection molding is compatible with hard plastic polymers and resins such as polycarbonate.
Nevertheless, many blow molding materials are suitable for injection molding. A few examples of common materials used in blow and injection molding are:
Acrylic: Acrylic is glass-like plastic resistant to wear, scratching, color stain, and UV exposure. It is commonly used in food and beverage applications.
Acetal: Acetal is a strong plastic material resistant to friction, temperature, and abrasion. As a result, it is commonly used in mechanical and automotive applications.
Polyetheretherketone (PEEK): This thermoplastic has a high chemical, radiation, and temperature tolerances. Consequently, it is important in manufacturing parts used in many medical, automotive, and industrial environments.
Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC): PVC has high durability, dimensional stability, and resistance to flame, chemicals, and abrasion. Therefore, it is a common injection molding material industry-wise.
Polyester: They have high tensile strength and dielectric properties in making trampolines, canoes, etc.
Urethane: This low-cost injection molding material can achieve precise tolerance. Consequently, it is applicable in making products with complex designs.
Just ensure you know the different factors in choosing the right material.
The most distinctive difference between the blow and injection molding is that the former is suitable for hollow parts, and the latter is applicable for making solid parts.
Injection molding is the right method for making plastic parts that need a rigid wall, such as bottle caps, hair combs, and computer housings. In contrast, blow molding is suitable for making hollow products with flexible or structural properties. For example, bottles, coolers, fuel tanks, and stadium seats.
Blow molding has a lower cost than injection molding cost due to the shorter operation and tooling cost. Furthermore, the cost of a blow molding machine is lower than the an injection molding machine.
Choosing between blow molding and injection molding should only occur after knowing the differences between both processes. The major decider of your choice should be your investment capability and the types of products you want to make.
Blow molding is the best when working with hollow parts such as bottles, water tanks, etc. But if your desired project requires a solid part with a complex design, injection molding is the right process.
Blow molding and injection molding are common plastic part manufacturing processes used in commercial and industrial products. They are different processes with plastic parts designs. This article talks about the difference between blow and injection molding. Do you need high-quality plastic parts? Let us help you get started.
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When it comes to molding techniques, the two prominent ones that come to mind at first are blow molding and injection molding. But before considering or selecting any molding technique for your next project, you must take into consideration all the important aspects and details of both procedures.
Here, we have provided a detailed study of both the types of molding techniques, i.e., blow molding and injection molding followed by their cost structure. In addition, this blog also talks about the different raw materials, characteristics, custom injection molding cost, and the things that one needs to know before selecting between the blow and injection molding.
Blow molding is a type of molding technique used to make hollow plastic products like plastic bottles. This type of molding has its roots in the glass blow molding industry. Here, a thermoplastic molten tube, commonly known as parison is poured into a mold cavity and with the help of compressed air, it is inflated to take the shape of the mold but it remains hollow inside.
Blow molding has several advantages of its own:
There are three types of blow molding known as extrusion blow molding, injection blow molding, and injection stretch blow molding. Their cost also differs depending on this, however, there is only a slight variation of cost between the three. The cost of blow molding depends on the weight of the parison used in the production.
On average, an extrusion blow mold of a single cavity is as cheap as $3000 whereas a multi-cavity extrusion blow mold can go up to $25000 which is expensive but it comes with enough efficiency to return the profits and cover up the initial cost.
Injection blow molds are more expensive than extrusion blow molds. They cost somewhere between $4700- $40000 but they can go as high as $89500 too. The production capacity increases as the price goes higher.
Injection stretch blow molding machines can cost between $25000 to $45000. With the price increment, the output capacity, as well as other features, are also improved which can cut labor costs and boost profit.
As the name suggests, injection molding is a process where plastic pellets are melted and injected into hollow molds under high temperatures and extreme pressure. Then, it is allowed to solidify to get the mold of the desired shape.
Thus, it produces solid articles and is not hollow.
Injection molding can be performed with a variety of raw materials like thermoplastic, clear polystyrene plastic, thermosetting polymers, and even glass and metal.
The advantages of injection molding are:
Injection molds are more precise which makes this process expensive. As injection molding takes place at high temperatures and pressure, the cost of injection molding mainly depends on the amount of “tonnage pressure” that keeps the mold intact.
Injection molding is comparatively expensive as compared to blow molding since the process is complicated. On average, the cost of injection molding could range anywhere between a few thousand dollars to eighty thousand dollars depending on their specific features. The cost also depends on the material which is molded.
A single cavity mold can be purchased between $3000 to $6000 while multi-cavity molds can go above $90,000 depending on the production capacity. Indeed, the initial costs are high, but the large production capacity with speed and precision is what reaps profits.
Before selecting either of the two methods, it is important to consider a few pointers that would help you arrive at a better decision.
Type of Mould: If you want a single-piece, flexible and hollow mold such as plastic bottles, children’s outdoor toys, etc. then blow molding is for you. Plastic injection molding is ideal for the large-scale production of highly-engineered products.
Type of Machinery and Process: Blow molding requires less precision and the process is easier than that of plastic injection molding. The mold-making process is complex in the latter but once the mold is in place, you have fairly less work to do. However, in blow molding, secondary processes are required for giving the finishing touch to the mold.
Cost: If you want to have low-tech, single-piece components under a budget, blow molding should be considered whereas, for complex, high-tech, and high strength products, injection molding is the best.
With an experience of more than 10 years, RYD tooling is an outstanding manufacturer of plastic injection molds catering to a variety of industries like automotive, electronics, appliances, and others. They provide a comprehensive range of services in the field of plastic injection molding along with customized plastic injection molds of high quality.
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Before selecting between blow molding and injection molding, it is important to have a basic knowledge of both methods. Considering your purpose, type and budget will help you make a better choice, and thus, we have curated this blog to give you a quick tour of these processes along with their costs.
In addition, RYD Tooling, located in China is a one-stop location for all of your plastic injection molding needs. Don’t forget to check them out!
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