PrintInjection molding is intricate and the placement or concealment of gates play a crucial role ensuring the aesthetic and functional quality of any final medical device. Former tool room turned sales engineer Craig Tappe, shared his thoughts during a recent LinkedIn Live session with Jeff Dirkx Assembly Program Manager.
Strategies for Gate Placement
Tappe emphasizes the importance of well-thought through design strategies to effectively hide gates. “Not every gate needs to be directly into the side of a part in a parting line gate.” he stated. “We can drop gates into the faces of parts using either direct valve gating or three-plate style molding. Get those gates in areas to where they’re not going to be on a cosmetic surface that’s visible on the end product.”
This approach involves creating gate recesses and strategically placing gates on non-cosmetic surfaces. By utilizing methods such as direct-valve gating or three plate style molding, micro molders like Accumold ensure gates do not mar the visible and aesthetically critical surfaces of the product. But this doesn’t happen without customer communication and collaboration.
Collaboration with Customers
Early collaboration with customers is key to successful gate placement. “We like to work up-front with our customers,” Tappe explains. “We look at the parts early on and determine where the best location for the gate’s going to be.”
By engaging with medical device engineers from the initial design phase, they can identify the optimal gate locations and tailor the mold design accordingly. This proactive approach not only ensures better gate concealment but also enhances the overall quality and functionality of the final product.
Advanced Techniques for High-Volume Projects
For high-volume projects, minimizing secondary operations for gate removal is also essential. “Key to really high-volume projects, is not having any secondary operations to remove gates. So we’ll do either self-shearing gates or use automation to shear the gates as they come out of the mold,” Tappe states.
Using self-shearing gates or automated systems to shear gates as they exit the mold streamlines the production process and reduces the need for additional manual operations. This not only improves efficiency but also maintains the integrity of the molded parts.
Effective gate placement and concealment in injection molding require a combination of innovative design strategies, early collaboration with customers, and advanced techniques for high-volume production. Tappe’s insights highlight the importance of these factors in achieving aesthetically pleasing and functionally superior molded parts.
By employing these strategies and communicating early, manufacturers can overcome the challenges associated with gate placement and deliver high-quality products that meet the stringent demands of today’s markets.