Blow Molding Machines
Blow molding is a cost-effective production method for manufacturing plastic objects. It’s a common process for producing bottles for beverages, cleaning products, and more.
Plastic resin is fed into the machine through a conveyor system. It’s typically stored in large bags or containers that are vacuum conveyed to the hopper of the extruder.
Extrusion
Most of the bottles and jars we use to hold beverages, medicine, cleaning products, food, and other items are manufactured using extrusion blow molding. This is the most common plastic production method, and it is able to create a wide variety of products in a short amount of time.
The process begins with plastic pellets, which are then melted through an extruder. This uses both frictional and external heat to melt the pellets into a molten mass called a parison, which is then pushed through a die by a ram piston or accumulator. This is either done continuously or intermittently. The accumulator system is used to allow for larger product sizes as it can achieve faster extrusion rates.
Once the parison has reached its desired length, it is enclosed in a product mold, which can be either a simple or complex shape. The neck of the bottle is formed by a compression force, and this can be assisted by a tooling component called a blow pin. blow molding machine This is either a continuous or intermittent device, depending on the machine process and the resulting application of the technology.
The product is then inflated with compressed air, and this forms the plastic to its final shape. As it cools, the plastic hardens against the mould, which is then opened and ejected. Some extra plastic at the ends of the product, which is known as flash, is trimmed off and recycled for future use.
Extrusion is the most versatile form of blow molding and can be applied to multiple types of products. However, it is not as efficient as injection blow molding. Injection is able to produce smaller, more precise parts, and it can also be used for thicker products that require greater accuracy in their construction. Injection also allows for a more controlled cooling process, and this helps to reduce warping in the finished product. Both methods can produce very high volumes of quality plastic products, but they are suited to different applications. This is why many companies use both processes in their production lines. This way, they can be sure to have the right plastic processing technique for each job. In addition, it can help them to cut costs and save money on the purchase of an expensive injection mold. Extrusion Blow Moulding machines are often cheaper to buy and operate than injection models, which are typically more expensive and require more maintenance. This makes them an attractive option for manufacturers looking to reduce their overall expenditures and still be able to meet production deadlines. This is why this type of plastic manufacturing technology is becoming increasingly popular.
Injection
Blow molding is a manufacturing process that produces hollow plastic parts. It is most commonly used to produce bottles, jars, and other containers that contain liquid, such as soda or oil. It can also be used to make larger items such as automobile gas tanks. Blow molding can be performed with various types of plastics and resins, including acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene (PE), LDPE, HDPE, and polypropylene. Blow molding machines are able to create products with complex shapes and thin walls.
The first step of the blow molding process involves feeding plastic resin into the machine’s hopper. The hopper is heated to a precise temperature to melt the resin into a viscous liquid. This melted resin is then transferred into the product mold, which is usually a test tube shape. The molded resin is then pressurized, and air is blown into the parison until it takes on the shape of the product. The inflated parison is then cooled and allowed to harden against the mold. Once the molded plastic is cool enough, the mold opens and the molded product is removed. The excess plastic on the ends of the part, called flash, is then trimmed off and recycled.
Injection blow molding is more flexible than extrusion blow molding machine factory blow molding, and it is often more economical. It allows manufacturers to use smaller diameter mandrels, which reduces the cost of tooling. It can also be used to produce larger volumes than extrusion blow molding, allowing manufacturers to reduce their costs per unit and improve their profit margins.
The injection blow molding process is also more versatile than extrusion blow molding, and it can be used to produce a variety of different products. It is suitable for products that require precise specifications and tight tolerances, such as automotive components, medical devices, and packaging. Injection blow molding is also capable of producing thinner-walled, more detailed products than extrusion blow molding.
A key advantage of injection blow molding is its ability to incorporate barrier layers into the product. This can be achieved by using a patented co-injection nozzle that joins two separate flow streams into a single melt stream. This can allow manufacturers to create products with a thicker neck, a thinner container wall, and an opaque seal.
Injection blow molding is most often used for soft plastics, such as Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), and Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE). It is less suitable for hard plastics, such as polycarbonate and acetal, which have high friction, heat, and chemical resistance. However, it can be combined with thermosets to make hybrid products. An important aspect of this type of process is the use of automation, which allows for a higher level of quality control. It can help to identify problems and prevent costly breakdowns.
