Plastic injection molding is one of the most widely used processes for manufacturing high-quality, and extremely precise parts. The process is known for its several benefits, and this has led to a wide range of industries employing this parts manufacturing method. There are various types of injection molding techniques in use today, and it depends on the parts to be produced. Among the many types, insert molding, and overmolding are the two most common injection molding techniques. What are they? How are they different from each other? Are these questions bothering you? Read the following post to find out the differences between insert molding and overmolding.
What are the Differences between Insert Molding and Overmolding?
Let us understand each molding type one by one, which will explain how they are different from one another.
What is Insert Molding?
Insert molding is a process in which a part is specially produced to fit inside a bigger injection molded component. This part is referred to as an insert. Plastic molding is then done around the insert. The result of the insert molding process is a product, which is made up of the insert, or several pieces, molded precisely into a bigger plastic component. The finished parts produced by this method are mostly a combination of thermoplastic and metal components. This process is used to manufacture a wide range of products that are used in a number of industries, such as aerospace, automotive and tracking, consumer products, and medical.
What are the Benefits of Insert Molding?
There are a number of benefits of employing the insert molding method, some of which are as follows:
- Reduced Assembly and Labor Costs
- Enhanced Product Design
- Strong, Durable, and Reliable Finished Products
- Corrosion Resistant Parts
- Lesser Assembly Time
- Reduced Parts Weight
What is Overmolding?
As the name suggests, overmolding is a process in which one material is molded on the other material. Additional plastic layers are molded on an already molded base layer. The layers surround the original part and form a single end product. The overmolding method is used to produce parts for different applications in a variety of industries. Some industries, which use this parts manufacturing method on a large scale include medical, electrical, communication, etc.
What are the Benefits of Overmolding?
Overmolding method of manufacturing precise parts is being used on a large scale, owing to the benefits that it offers, which are:
- Cost-effective Solution
- Several Years of Service Life
- Robust and Durable Finished Product
- Increased Safety
This is how these two molding techniques are different from each other. Both have their own set of advantages, and applications. It all depends on the application, and the parts to be manufactured. However, you can take help from an expert, who can suggest you the best-suited injection molding technique based on the requirements. Veejay Plastic is one such expert, which you can trust.