Use plastic injection molds terminology with confidence
When it comes to plastic molds, if you're talking to those involved in the industry, you had better know that a blush at the parting line refers not to classic romance movies, but to artifacts of injection molding on the finished product. More importantly, if you're just starting out or if you'll be hiring an injection molding company to manufacture your product, you'll need to know the ins and outs of the process itself to have success with plastic injection molding.

Whether you're an inventor and want to use injection molds for plastic to develop a product prototype, or you're a manufacturer in the market for a production technology, get familiar with some basic plastic injection molds key terms to make the process easier. Learn the terms as you need them, or study plastic injection molding in-depth, depending on your relationship to the industry.

1. Talk plastic injection with ease when ordering prototypes.

2. Know enough about injection molds for plastic to avoid expensive errors and delayed production.

3. Use plastic injection molds key terms when buying or selling molding equipment.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Order prototypes from plastic injection mold technology companies
You'll need certain plastic injection mold information just to order a quote for prototype production. First of all, you need to know the number of cavities and their purposes within the product design. You will need to provide the molding company with information about whether the runner system will use hot or cold sprue, what kind of polymer you want used for production, and what type of finish -- high-gloss, sandblasted or textured, for instance -- you'll want your prototype to exhibit.
I recommend: Learn the terms you'll need when ordering injection molding for plastic from Protomold, then visit LongMold Technology to see a sample quote form.
Research plastic injection molding solutions to save money on production
As affordable plastic injection molds go, it may still be more cost-effective for your business to order molded parts from an experienced manufacturer. What you don't know could cost you money, however. Your part design may not allow for a standard draft angle for removal from the mold, for instance, but if you adjust the design slightly to allow a small opening in the part, you can avoid serious retooling lead time and extra expense.
I recommend: View examples of plastic injection molding solutions and schematics through eFunda. Read up on computer-aided design (CAD) considerations and see a sample CAD rendering of a boss structure from Engineer's Edge.
Find information on plastic injection molds when in the market for special orders
Traditional plastic injection molding companies may not always fit the bill; when you need rapid-fire production or have orders that require quick redesign, retooling and prototyping, you have to understand exactly what's involved in the process to avoid extra charges. Also, understanding the technology will help you remain realistic as you search for a plastic injection molding solution to your current dilemma.
I recommend: Get in-depth information on rapid prototyping and test your understanding of plastic injection molding company terminology with 3-Dimensional Services Group. Or, learn more with "A Practical Guide to Prototyping" from Design Prototyping Technologies.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
•  When ordering prototypes made through plastic injection molds, know what type of resin you'll be using in production before you design the CAD model. The type of resin used will determine the thickness of your prototype's walls, which should only be thin on smaller parts.