Micro Molding

Micro molding is the process of manufacturing extremely small plastic parts via injection molding. Though they have a wide range of applications, micro molded plastic parts are exceptionally useful for the medical industry, where they are used in surgical equipment and implantable devices. Micro molding is also frequently used in the manufacture of electronics devices, which continue to become simultaneously smaller and more powerful. Micro molding is perhaps the most difficult variation of plastic injection molding. Injection molding polymers (the plastic materials) tend to have “large” molecules that are difficult to transform into such miniscule pieces. Common micro molded polymers include thermoplastics, thermosets, and elastomers. To effectively and efficiently produce micro molded parts, injection molding companies must have both the highly specialized equipment required and considerable materials knowledge.  The fine details on the underside of this key were produced via micro molding. In addition to unique nature of the molding polymers, injection molders must also contend with the miniscule scale of the actual molds themselves. At such small sizes—micro molded parts can be as small as a few thousandths of an inch in diameter and weigh less than a gram—even gene