What is Micro-Molding?
[Home]: What is micromolding?
There seems to be a lot of talk these days about micro-molding. This reflects the increased interest
from designers and manufacturers in producing and procuring high precision, micro-featured plastic parts.
The result has been countless articles in the trade magazines addressing this new niche in the injection
molding industry containing many differing definitions, creating some confusion. So exactly what is micro-molding?
Part size is one of the obvious elements but is it the only element? Or is it simply defined by the
size of the injection press? What about precision, or does the part just have to be small?
At Accumold we believe true micro-molding involves much more than size or machine.
What about the size?
Obviously the term “micro” suggests that micro-molding has something to do with size, but how is it
defined?
When you speak of parts that weigh less than a gram, you’re in the right ballpark, but it takes more
than size. It’s one thing to mold something small, it’s another thing to mold it efficiently and precisely
time and time again. Micro-molding must be capable of producing thousands, millions, even billions of
parts with the same precision.
What about the machine?
Today anyone can buy an injection press from a variety of manufactures. Many of them even advertise
special presses just for “micro-molding.” However, a micro-molder is not classified by hardware alone.
The combination of innovation, processing, and expert tool building together make up the elements of
true micro-molding. And just like buying a piano doesn’t make one an overnight virtuoso, it takes years
of experience to master the process. A good press is only as good as the technology that comes before
it.
What about “small” parts?
Not every application requires microscopic parts, many times a customer has a small molding project
that requires demanding geometry and tight tolerances, but on a slightly larger scale. For example, a
part measuring about an inch long can have many micro-sized features, a .004” (.1mm) thin wall section,
a .008” (.20mm) diameter hole, etc. These features can be extreme, but a genuine micro-molder can apply
the skills and expertise from successful micro-molding to these “larger” parts.
Insert / Lead Frame Molding:
Another key ingredient for any micro-molder is the ability to perform other traditional injection molding
processes at the micro scale. The demand for micro-sized lead frame and insert molding continues to grow
and the same size and tolerance requirements of standard micro-molding apply to these processes as well.
The ability to overmold a micro-sized part on an extremely small insert while maintaining consistency
and accuracy is critical. This process is in demand for the continued success of the micro-electronics
and semiconductor industries.
Insert micro-molding applies to more than just metal inserts. It means being capable of molding in and
around a wide variety of other materials such as ceramic, glass, fabrics, film or foil to other plastics.
The image to the right is an example insert molding on the micro-scale. This particular example shows
a special insert material carefully positioned at the center of the part. To successfully feed, cut,
position and shut-off on this unstable and delicate material the mold has to be very precise. The molding
process required repeatable control to avoid damaging the insert while keeping the tight tolerances of
the part itself.
2-Shot Micro-Molding
Adding to the capabilities of micro-molding is the ability to mold two different materials on the same
part at the same time. The two different thermoplastic resins are shot in sync so that it requires only
one mold cycle. Often times this process can add valuable cosmetic or functional properties, reduce labor
or assist in making the part more robust.
The image above has a soft durometer material in the center, surrounded by a hard ABS structural material.
This part is molded in one mold eliminating the need to build two parts and assemble them or two tools
and insert mold one material on the other saving time and resources.
Micro-Optics
The world of micro-optics and micro-molding seem to go hand in hand. This high-tech market sector requires
micron level features and micron level tolerances. It’s not just a product for the telecommunications
market either. Products like medical diagnostics, endoscopic and minimally invasive surgical tools and
micro sensor applications are taking advantage of these tiny lenses.
The image to the right is a 12-lens array for the high-bandwidth data market. It’s made of Sabic’s Ultem® material.
Each lens is 250µm in diameter on 250µm centers. The noncumulative positional tolerances of each lens
from the datum post is ±3µm.
In-House Tooling & Production
Control of the mold design and build process is essential to the success of any micro-molding project.
Having in-house tool design, build and maintenance resources is a significant advantage when dealing
with extremely tight tolerances and complexities of the parts we have already mentioned. The end goal;
making good parts on time every time requires experienced in-house tooling, design engineering, project
planning, process engineering and quality engineering resources. This assures a fully developed design
for manufacturing. It would be very difficult to outsource these responsibilities with manufacturing
projects this complex.
The in-house tool makers are integral members of the project management team as are the quality technicians
and process engineers. The team must plan and execute many sophisticated production processes while maintaining
strict project time lines. The need for clear on-going communications all along the way is essential.
In-house resources also play a critical roll in routine maintenance, running product changes or repairs
that may be required. Success is never guaranteed but probabilities increase dramatically when project
and production planning, time line and execution responsibility all lie within the control of a single
entity.
Automation & Packaging
Part handling and packaging sometimes seems like a second thought, but in many cases it’s almost as
important to the process as making the part. Molding a small part is one thing. Molding it and packaging
it so it’s oriented in a manner that’s useful to the customer can be a challenge all on it’s own.
In-house custom automation and packaging can come in many forms. This can be reel-to-reel packaging,
light subassemblies, lead frame die-forming and singulation, in-line inspection or a wide variety of
other custom secondary processes. These added services complete the total micro-molding service and sometimes
can be the difference between project success and failure.
Quality Assurance
Quality assurance is imperative to any micro-molding operation. The ability to prove that parts are
made to spec time and time again is where true capabilities are tested. This assurance comes in various
ways.
Quality begins at the start of each project. Design for manufacturability reviews are performed to ensure
the project is off on the right foot. Considerations for quality, the robustness of the process and the
ability to inspect and measure happen as early in the process as possible.
From there control plans addressing critical features, FMEA results and other quality requirements are
developed. High tech and low tech measurements are used depending on what’s appropriate. Measurement
plans using precision gage pins, high resolution in-line vision systems may be employed where necessary.
Verification of tool dimensions as well as finished part dimensions often require high magnification
microscopic measurements.
Product handling is also a necessary consideration. Surface contamination can be at a minimum a nuisance
for parts this size. Delicate features need proper processes in place to make sure the product arrives
to the customer undamaged. Automation and clean room molding may be required.
Materials
Thermoplastic resins come in almost as many forms as there are ideas in the mind of a Mechanical Engineer.
In the world of micro-molding, mission critical components often require exotic or highly engineered
compounds.
Materials like PEEK, PEI (Ultem®), carbon filled LCP or glass filled nylons are commonplace. Soft durometer
or elastomeric resins are also prominent. Direct experience with these materials in the context of micro-molding
is another part of valuable know-how needed to maximize the performance of the resin/part design combination.
Customer Satisfaction
When it’s all said and done it’s about the finished component or assembly. A authentic micro-molder
produces extreme parts consistently and efficiently every time. A true micro-molder is ultimately there
to meet the high demands of modern manufacturing. The artistry and ingenuity in the process is lost if
in the end the product does not satisfy the customer.
Even though micro-molding may seem new and novel, Accumold has been in the “micro” business for more
than two decades and have produced billions of micro-molded parts over the years. It’s where we started
as a company, and it’s where we continue to grow, innovate and produce.
True micro-molding is our way of thinking, our way of doing, and our way of life.
To learn more about Accumold visit www.accu-mold.com or contact us at +1 515-964-5741. |
