How To Make Plastic Injection Molds

If you want to learn how to make plastic injection molds, be prepared for a concentrated effort! The skill required to build a mold for plastic injection molding is considerable and you must be prepared to diligently apply yourself, for quite a lengthy period of time.

However, if you are truly motivated and have basic machining skills, it is entirely possible to learn the art and science of mold making on your own. You will, of course, need a lot of equipment and time and effort. Many community colleges have evening programs where you can work, plus they have textbooks to teach you.

Learn About Plastic Mold Construction 

Generally, in the United States anyway, you must take classes, either at a technical college, or a night school. This is done in combination with working as an apprentice, usually for 4 additional years. Personally, I completed a 2 year full-time course at a very good technical college in Minnesota. During this time I worked as a machinist in local shops.

Upon graduation I was hired as an apprentice mold maker. Because I had finished my classes, I was not required to take any evening courses. After registering with the state, we had periodic inspections of the type of apprentice work I was doing. Probably this was to ensure that nobody was taking advantage of me and that I was receiving the agreed upon training. It also ensured that my pay was increasing over time, until I reached the "journeyman" level.

Time and space would not allow for anyone to attempt to explain how to make plastic injection molds on a website. It could be done as an ebook, though I have never seen one. There are several good books that explain the process in great detail, and, of course, there are text books available.

Here is an independent review of How To Make Injection Molds. It is by the senior engineer of a world-class mold maker in Connecticut.

The best way to learn the art and science of making molds for plastic injection is to become an apprentice. If you already are an apprentice, you can learn a great deal from plastics journals, such as Mold making Technology and EDM Today. I believe you can subscribe for free in many cases.

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A Ten Cent Tour!

1. Somebody gets an idea for a plastic part
2. He gets the part designed, or designs it himself
3. He submits it to a plastic injection molding company for a quote on producing his part
4. They agree and the mold design is done
5. A mold for the plastic part is made
6. The plastic part is molded
7. Any secondary operations, such as assembly or decorated are done
8. The finished plastic part is shipped
9. Everyone is happy and makes a tidy profit!

But what about step 5? That is our concern right now. The books listed above explain everything you could want to know about plastic mold construction.