The Benefits of Injection Molding in the Aerospace Industry
Injection molding has proven its benefits in a wide range of industries, especially the aerospace industry. Because of this, injection molding has become a popular option for manufacturing various aerospace parts.
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What is Injection Molding?
Injection molding is one of the most popular molding methods used to manufacture a wide range of plastic parts. This method relies on raw plastic material, an injection molding machine, and a mold shaped like the desired part. During the process, the injection molding machine melts raw plastic material, which is then injected into the mold. Once the plastic cools and solidifies, it becomes the final product.
Injection molding is widely used as it offers a repeatable, reliable, and cost-effective option for mass production.
Advantages of Injection Molding in the Aerospace Industry
The most important advantages that injection molding offers the aerospace industry include:
Precision Components
Injection molding offers a method of high volume production with repeatable precision. Precision parts are crucial in the aerospace industry, as a single error can have catastrophic consequences. Injection molding boasts tolerances of +/-.001’’ for optimal accuracy.
High Strength
High-strength thermoplastic resins, such as carbon fiber and glass-filled reinforced resins, produce durable plastic parts that can resist high temperatures and corrosion. This is critical for reliability in harsh aerospace environments.
Excellent Repeatability
Injection molding offers a repeatable option for large-scale production. Once the procedure is defined and all product specifications and dimensions are met, the process is easily repeatable for creating thousands of aerospace parts without sacrificing precision.
Versatility
Since precision is vital, quickly adjusting with minimal disruption is a crucial advantage of injection molding. Injection molding can allow for quick and easy engineering changes without creating an entirely new mold.
Lightweight
In the aerospace industry, weight can affect both performance and cost. The lighter the components, the less fuel that is needed. Aircraft that are outfitted with lightweight plastic injection molded components will use less fuel compared to aircraft outfitted with heavier metal components. This translates to a significant cost difference over time.
Scalability
Injection molding allows for numerous mold designs that can include multiple cavities to produce various parts at once. Multiple molds can be constructed to meet high-volume production needs, or a single mold can be used as parts are required. This allows you to scale injection molding to your specific production needs.
Rapid Prototyping
With injection molding, plastic prototypes can be quickly created using less expensive molds, allowing you to test parts before going into full production. HARBEC’s prototype molds are typically quoted at 5-6 weeks.
Aerospace Products Produced Using Injection Molding
The aerospace industry uses injection molding to manufacture many different parts necessary for an aircraft, including:
- Bezels
- Turbine blades
- Lenses
- Panels
- Turbine housings
- Chassis components
- Enclosures and containers
- Radomes
Aerospace Injection Molding from HARBEC
Injection molding is an invaluable process for the aerospace industry. With over four decades of experience, HARBEC can produce superior injection molded components with quick turnaround times, reasonable prices, and exceptional quality. For more information or to get started on your injection molding solution, request a quote for our services today.
