Micro molding is a molding process for the manufacture of plastic components for shot weights of 1 to 0.1 g with tolerances in the range of 10 to 100 microns. This molding process allows manufacturers to produce complicated small geometries with maximum possible accuracy and precision.
One of the first things to learn about micro molding is its spelling. While the most common spelling in the industry is “micro molding,” it’s also commonly spelled “micromolding.” In Europe, it’s often spelled, “micromoulding.”
The micro molding process starts in a tooling department where a mold is created that has a cavity in the shape of the part desired. Thermoplastic or resin is rapidly injected into the cavity, creating the component or part at high speed.
According to the micro molding company, Accumold, the rise of micro molding was prompted by increasing interest from designers and manufacturers in producing smaller, lighter, and more precise devices and specialized equipment. To miniaturize technology, manufacturers must first procure high precision, micro-featured plastic parts.
Part size is an obvious factor in determining micro molding, but it’s not the only factor that matters. Micro molding produces a component or part that is: micro in size, micro in features, micro in tolerances.
The basic concept of the micro injection molding process is quite similar to the regular injection molding process. The micro injection unit is integrated into the injection molding machine.
Read more: The Fundamentals of Micro Molding
