Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : How do you size a press for an insert mold without guessing?

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

How do you size a press for an insert mold without guessing?

Insert molding comes with its own set of challenges, especially when it comes to machine selection.

You’re not just injecting plastic. You’re integrating parts, managing vertical clearances, coordinating rotary tables or shuttle movements, and often dealing with temperature-sensitive inserts like metal or pre-molded components.

The mistake I see too often? Picking a machine based only on clamp tonnage or tie-bar spacing. That might work for simple overmolds, but it completely overlooks:

1. Platen layout and accessibility

2. Safety and ergonomics for manual insert placement

3. Compatibility with rotary tables or sliding platens

4. Stroke length needed for clearance during loading/unloading

5. Injection speed and control needed for fragile or multi-material interfaces

These kinds of applications often require deeper planning. It’s not just about what fits, but how it runs, how it's loaded, and how much flexibility the setup allows.

That’s why I always recommend a functional layout review before committing to a machine for insert molding. Even better, start from the part and build upward. That’s where we can really identify which platform makes the most sense and whether vertical or horizontal execution offers the right mix of performance and simplicity.

If you’re working on insert or overmold projects, especially ones with rotary tables or high-value components, let’s take a closer look together. You’ll catch potential problems before they show up in production.

source : Roman Malisek