A small sized, used, injection moulding machine?????
A small sized, used, injection moulding machine?????
(OP)
I am a long retired party who was in the waste removal business for most all of my life. This entailed solving many problems of mechanical, electric, and hydraulic nature.
I now have a patent on a toy like flying machine, and I would like to tinker with the idea of getting a hold of a small plastic injection machine, that would perhaps run on 240 current, to see if I could produce the fairly simple, various parts that I need.
I fully realize that I can get most any plastic company to do this work, but at a cost that is prohibitive. I have always loved the idea of learning new stuff, and this sounds like I could have a ball, and if I fail, so what.
I was thinking there surly is small equipment out there that might sell for one or thousand dollars. Am I wrong? Am I nuts? Perhaps.
I would welcome any help or comments.
jplot1
I now have a patent on a toy like flying machine, and I would like to tinker with the idea of getting a hold of a small plastic injection machine, that would perhaps run on 240 current, to see if I could produce the fairly simple, various parts that I need.
I fully realize that I can get most any plastic company to do this work, but at a cost that is prohibitive. I have always loved the idea of learning new stuff, and this sounds like I could have a ball, and if I fail, so what.
I was thinking there surly is small equipment out there that might sell for one or thousand dollars. Am I wrong? Am I nuts? Perhaps.
I would welcome any help or comments.
jplot1






RE: A small sized, used, injection moulding machine?????
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: A small sized, used, injection moulding machine?????
There is a reason the plastic part prototyping market is so big with so many players. The cost of doing it yourself far exceeds the cost of paying someone else.
RE: A small sized, used, injection moulding machine?????
This is more then a hobby I think, as I would at the same time be trying to bring to market my invention, and have the means to at least make prototypes, and maybe even mass produce my product.
I realize the mold part is expensive and difficult, but it is possible that I already have some of the tools needed. Metal cutting metal is my first love and I have a 13 inch metal lathe and could adapt a milling attachment to it.
Thanks again. jplot1
RE: A small sized, used, injection moulding machine?????
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: A small sized, used, injection moulding machine?????
Don't bother building a mill, either, as was suggested. Colossal waste of time. I just picked up a nearly new 9x42 turret mill with digital readout, power feed, and gobs of tooling for $1600.
Yes, you can pick up small injection molders for a song these days. Ebay almost always has some, but your better bet might be to check out some real industrial auctions, where this kind of machinery is usually sold at or slightly above scrap price. An older solid state machine, depending on the size, could go for as little as a couple hundred US.
Good luck in your venture!
RE: A small sized, used, injection moulding machine?????
240V?
Also, when you buy material, you will be paying $$$$ for small quantities unless you have a friendly local moulder.
All the scrap will be yours, too.
If you want to mould hygroscopic materials (e.g. nylons, ABS, Acrylics, Polycarbonate, polyesters, et. al.) you will also need some serious drying equipment!
Ok to make the tools if you can find a moulder who will run them.
I am in the Uk and have a 75 tonne Stubbe which will be free to anyone who can collect it. (I assume as the OP did not state his location he is in the USA). It's 3 phase 415V supply. Four barrel assemblies, two std, one PVC and one thermoset water cooled.) Never raced or rallied!
Cheers
Harry
www.tynevalleyplastics.co.uk
RE: A small sized, used, injection moulding machine?????
You needn't buy the machine but get someone who has one to print your parts.
You can also use a rapid prototyping machine to print a plastic mold that you can then use in place of a metal mold for small runs of parts made by injection molding.
Chris DeArmitt PhD FRSC CChem
www.phantomplastics.com
Consultant to the plastics industry
RE: A small sized, used, injection moulding machine?????
Statistical data would puts the odd of your presumption as being correct as very high.
Regards
Pat
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RE: A small sized, used, injection moulding machine?????
Chris, are you serious about a plastic plastic mold? I guess it would work if casting low-temperature, low-pressure resins or thermosets (urethanes, epoxies)...
The name I mentioned has a fairly comprehensive do-it-yourself quote engine, and some fairly good design info. to walk you thru getting a part quoted. At least you could compare costs relative to the do-it-yourself method.
RE: A small sized, used, injection moulding machine?????
They used wood patterns and a steel bolster to cast the moulds.
They moulded the frames in cellulose propionate.
The moulds lasted about 100 shots give or take about 50 shots.
Regards
Pat
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RE: A small sized, used, injection moulding machine?????
Chris DeArmitt PhD FRSC CChem
www.phantomplastics.com
Consultant to the plastics industry
RE: A small sized, used, injection moulding machine?????
Chris, I didn't know that the higher-temp polymers like PPS could be fabbed, will have to google that brand name to see what's up.
RE: A small sized, used, injection moulding machine?????
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: A small sized, used, injection moulding machine?????
That last one about China was great, and I have had my eye on China ever since I started dealing with Harbor Freight years ago. The computer is a wonderful tool, but it still takes a mountain of time to a get anywhere.
I had wanted to post a animation file here, or even just a picture, but I have no idea yet as to how to do it.
jplot
RE: A small sized, used, injection moulding machine?????
I worked with them in the past to develop new rapid prototyping plastics. We succeeded in making parts from ASA and MABS.
Chris DeArmitt PhD FRSC CChem
www.phantomplastics.com
Consultant to the plastics industry
RE: A small sized, used, injection moulding machine?????
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywaVZQMRzzg
Any comments?
jplot
RE: A small sized, used, injection moulding machine?????
jplot1,
Could you not make it in two halves and clip them together?
"Open and shut" tooling.
Harry
www.tynevalleyplastics.co.uk
RE: A small sized, used, injection moulding machine?????
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: A small sized, used, injection moulding machine?????
If so it can be fairly easily fabricated from a wood or plastic hub, hollowed out as required for strength and weight and with plastic rods bought from a supplier of semi finished plastics materials. You might even be able to buy hollow tubes suitable size.
If you want to make your own, possibly have an extrusion company produce the profile for the arms. Extrusion dies are a lot cheaper than plastics moulds and make silicon rubber or even wood moulds to cast the hub from thermoset polyester or themoset polyurethane or cast nylon or epoxy.
Regards
Pat
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RE: A small sized, used, injection moulding machine?????
Sounds like the best way to approach my search for a used small injection machine, is to see if I can find a heaavy machinery auction someplace close to Canton,Ohio.
I have recently revived my Google Sketchup program, and am going to see if I can draw an accurate 3D pic of the Base that I feel I need. Will make a new post then.
jplot
RE: A small sized, used, injection moulding machine?????
Sign on the machine shop wall: 'You can have it fast, cheap, or good. Pick any two.'
Protomold (and other prototyping shops) = fast, good
China = cheap, and <pick your 2nd criteria>
I would say, having dealt with some prototype shops that do SLA's, you can ask them for slower delivery, and some of them will discount accordingly. Dunno if the injection molders will do similar. One of the good features about some of these shops is the free engineering they can give you up-front (e.g. suggestions on changes to the part to allow for molding). Where you eventually go for actual part production is up to you.
RE: A small sized, used, injection moulding machine?????
Regards
Pat
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