Plastic Mold and Plastic Mold Types

What is plastic molding?

A plastic injection mold is a metal tool that shapes plastic products according to the shape of the mold cavity. It is used in injection molding technology to manufacture plastic products.

Each plastic mold is designed for a specific plastic product, based on its shape, size, number of mold cavities and the required quality of the molded part.

The plastic mold is a key component that determines the quality, productivity and production cost of plastic products.

Types of plastic molds

There are many types of plastic injection molds. The structure of the plastic product determines which type of mold to choose, to ensure the quality, productivity and service life of the mold.

By number of mold plates

• 2-plate plastic mold
• 3-plate plastic mold

By mold opening method

• Straight-opening plastic mold
• Plastic mold with side opening: in addition to the straight opening, there is a horizontal opening called a slide.

By part ejection method

• Ejection by ejector pins.
• Ejection by stripper plate or stripper ring.
• Ejection by angled pins, also known as lifters.
• Ejection by ejector sleeves.
• Unscrewing by hydraulic (rotary) motor, used for products with internal threads.
• Ejection by air valves (compressed air).

By mold material

• Solid plastic mold: the mold core and mold base are made of the same material.
• Insert-type plastic mold: the mold core is made of high-grade steel and inserted into the mold base, which is made of lower-grade steel to save costs, among other advantages.

By runner system

• Cold runner plastic mold.
• Hot runner plastic mold.

By gate type

• Side gate (edge gate) plastic mold.
• Submarine (tunnel) gate plastic mold.
• Plastic mold with gate through the ejector pin.

By steel condition

• Hardened steel mold: the steel is heat-treated after rough machining, for high-volume production.
• Pre-hardened steel mold: the steel is supplied pre-hardened and machined directly, for faster and lower-cost tooling.