Quality has an essential role in injection molded parts, and impacts performance, durability, and longevity. Various things go into ensuring parts are high quality, such as material selection and process parameters. The use of state-of-the-art equipment also has an important role to play. Let’s take a deeper look at some of this equipment and how it can impact injection molding quality. 

Essential Equipment Investments for Injection Molding Quality

State-of-the-art equipment is vital throughout the injection molding production process. This equipment can include:

  • Advanced injection molding machines: These machines must be durable and long-lasting in order to run continually. Westecs’ machines range from 28 to 610 US tons, but despite this immense weight, they can delicately mold parts weighing only a fraction of an ounce to 3 pounds. 
  • Precision molds and tooling: Some precision mold equipment includes CNC machines or EDM machines. CAD technology aids in the design of the part as well. At Westec, we recently acquired the Mantle P-200 metal 3D printer, cutting edge technology that allows for greater speed, precision, and efficiency. It has reduced our production timeline from 12 weeks to as little as 2-4 weeks, significantly reducing lead times, shipping costs, and other expenses. 
  • Quality control and inspection equipment: Quality control should begin at the very start of a project’s creation and continue through to the shipping of the product. Certain equipment can handle precise inspection requirements, and an inspection department should be done at certain intervals to ensure quality. At Westec, we have the capabilities to provide several important inspection services, including:
    • First article inspection (FAI)
    • Validation
    • Customized inspection reports
    • Gage R&R studies
    • Certificate of compliance
    • Raw material certificates
    • RoHS and REACH compliance statements on qualifying raw materials 
  • Material handling and dosing systems: Quality material handling systems focus on moving goods, packing and unpacking goods, and sorting goods in an efficient and cost-effective manner. This is vital for keeping a smooth supply chain process in order, and this requires conveyor systems, lifts, and other transportation equipment. Dosing systems blend plastic with certain additives in the right ratio, and one piece of equipment used for this is the high precision dosing cylinder.
  • Integrated quality management systems: This is designed to streamline and automate company’s quality assurance operations, all while increasing efficiency and productivity.

Equipment Spotlights

Let’s take a closer look at some key inspection equipment and software that help with injection molding quality. 

Keyence IM-7030T 

This piece of inspection equipment allows for instant measurements. Using automated technology for measurements allows for faster and more accurate results. This equipment can measure up to 100 parts at once and offers automatic inspection reports, which certainly enhance the quality of injection molded parts. 

Micro-Vu Excel 652UC CMM 

Programmable CMM measurement systems allow the measurement of tight tolerances of plastic injection molded parts. This is another piece of equipment that is fast and highly accurate, leading to better overall quality. 

QC-Calc SPC software 

This software is used for data collection and analysis. It can help you monitor and manage important data that can then be used for continuous improvement. 

Experience Superior Quality with Injection Molding Solutions from Westec

At Westec, we are a California-based injection molding company that is committed to quality. Certified as an ISO 13485:2016 company, quality drives our every action, and utilizing state-of-the-art equipment to aid in that process is essential. 

Westec has 23 plastic injection molding machines that run 24 hours a day. Our equipment includes 3 two-shot injection molding machines, run single or multiple cavity and conventional or hot runner molds. We’re also committed to using advanced technology, like our inspection equipment, to ensure more accuracy in our results. With over 55years of experience, we are equipped to meet the needs of customers throughout a wide range of industries, including the medical device, pharmaceutical, industrial, and electronics industries. 

For premium quality injection molded parts, get in touch with Westec today.