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Insert Molding Services
NOBLE Insert Molding Services
NOBLE helps with custom insert molding services for prototypes and final parts.
●ISO 9001:2015 and ISO13485-2016 certificated
●No minimum order quantities
●24/7 engineering support
●Strict inspection
●Provide free DFM report within 12 hours
30t-1800t
Molding Machines
12+
Surface Finishes
0pc
MOQ
0.005mm
Tolerances
What is Insert Molding Process?
Insert molding is a process that injecting plastic materials around another part so that forms a new part. As usual, the material of the inserted component could be plastic or metal. In the insert molding process, the insert is placed in the mold in advance, and then the machinist will inject plastic (thermoplastic resin is the common material) into the cavity. When cooled, parts are about to be packaged and delivered to customers.
Advantages of Insert Molding Process
As insert molding makes metal, plastics, and other materials form a combination together, improving the mechanical properties of the plastic parts or thermoplastic elastomer products. Besides, the advantages of insert molding are as follows:
No assembly
Various materials are combined into one component during insert molding. The produced parts are the final components. Thus, it speeds up the production process.
Reduce labor costs
No need to assemble in the process of insert molding contributes to reducing labor costs. Therefore, production efficiency is enhanced.
Improve parts durability
Plastic is injected around the parts in insert molding. The strength of engineering plastics is given play to improve wear resistance and tensile strength. At the same time, the properties of metallic materials are also made good use of because the strength and conductivity of final parts from insert molding are also enhanced.
Decrease the weight
Because the final component combines plastic and metal. The weight is less than the corroding metal parts.
Our Insert Molding from Prototyping to Production
Rapid Prototyping
Going through four prototype tooling stages(T0-T1-T2-T3) helps get design feedback and your product's validation. Our Injection molding prototypes can realize small batches parts in a few days to test your market and easily adjust your massive production.
Production Tooling
We make excellent production molds for various manufacturers. Strict and high-reliable materials are adapted to make durable molds. We support small batches to massive production. Our molds can produce thousands of parts. Respect and listen to your voice to adjust the production, from materials and technical processes.
Our Insert Molding Capabilities
For your convenience and to solve your problem more efficiently, refer to the following information to improve part manufacturability and reduce lead times. Let's unlock the potential of your insert molding project.
Standards | Metric Units | Imperial Units |
Maximum Part Size | 800×1000×400mm | 31.50×39.37×15.75in. |
Minimum Part Size | 2×2×2mm | 0. 08×0. 08×0. 08in. |
Substrate Wall Thickness | From 0. 5 to 3mm | From 0. 20 to 0. 12 in. |
Tolerance | +/- 0. 025 mm | +/- 0. 00098 in. |
Inserts | Inserts can be female and male. They both can improve a product's appearance and utility. | |
Mold Validation | Provide T0, T1, T2 samples before mass production | |
Inspection and Certification Options | First Article Inspection, ISO 9001, ISO13485 | |
Lead Time | From mold making to sample delivery: 15-45 business days | |
Materials for Insert Molding
Advanced injection molding machines ensure up-to-date and available insert molding options. A range of materials are supported to support your custom requirements in various fields. There are some common materials:
Tooling Materials:
High-tolerance CNC machined molds are required before the insert molding process can begin small or high-volume production. The most commonly used materials include:
| Tool Steel: | P20, H13, S7, NAK80, S136, S136H, 718, 718H, 738 |
| Stainless Steel: | 420, NAK80, S136, 316L, 316, 301, 303, 304 |
| Aluminum: | 6061, 5052, 7075 |
Plastic Materials:
Plastic injection molding services offer a variety of materials with different properties such as impact strength, stiffness, heat resistance, and chemical resistance.
| ABS | Nylon (PA) | PC | PVC |
| PU | PMMA | PP | PEEK |
| PE | HDPE | PS | POM |
Additives & fibers:
Additives and fibers usually be added to standard plastic materials to improve their properties. Such as aesthetics.
| UV | absorbers | Colorants |
| Flame | retardants | Glass fibers |
| Plasticizers |
Inserts:
The insert is put into the mold and then closed the mold. Plastic pellets will be plasticized. After the plastic has cured, the part is ejected from the mold, and the insert will be sealed into the part.
Brass | ||
Stainless Steel | ||
Aluminum |
Surface Finishes of Insert Molding
Surface finishing is also be used to improve the part's function and aesthetics. Common surface finishing is supported for your choice:
Name | Description | |
| Glossy | A grade finishes are made using a diamond buffing process and yield shiny and glossy surfaces on injection molded parts. |
| Semi-glossy | B grade finishes use grit sandpaper to produce parts with a slightly rougher finish than grade A parts. Custom molded plastic parts that undergo B grade finishing have a matte surface texture. |
| Matte | C grade finishes use grit sanding stones to produce a rough, uneven surface. Injection plastic parts that undergo C grade finishing have a matte surface texture. |
| Textured | D grade finishes use grit and dry glass beads or oxide to produce a very rough textured finish. Depending on the type of material used, products can have a satin or dull finish. |
Why Choose NOBLE for Custom Insert Molding Services?
NOBLE is dedicated to provide customized insert molding solutions from design to production. Our professional team quickly responds to your requirements.We provide competitive prices and strict standard production lines for high quality parts.
Optical MOQ
No restrictive MOQ is needed, which is beneficial for you to make a flexible cash flow. And make sure molded parts are efficient from prototype to production.
Rapid Lead Times
Abundant raw materials supply and adequate machines to speed up production.
Reliable Quality
Owing fully furnished certification and a complete quality inspection process, NOBLE guarantees every component is in good and high precision.
Professional Overmolding Team
Equipped with 10+ Senior Engineers and a well-structured team, making an effective turnaround from prototype to production.
Work with Us in 4 Simple Steps Only
NOBLE has many years of manufacturing experience providing the best solution for all Overmolding and low-volume manufacturing needs. We've simplified the innovation cycle into four simple but effective steps.
Upload Your Design
Just simply upload your CAD files and submit RFQs with clear information online.
Receive Design Analysis
We'll send you design for manufacturability analysis and transparent pricing.
Start Manufacturing
Our experts will produce your parts with the required technologies and materials.
Receive Your Parts
Your parts will be delivered to your door directly with stringent deadlines.
Custom Insert Molded Parts Display
See What Our Customers Say About Us
Technical Leader ---- Mike Sahin
Thank you to the staff at NOBLE. Their staff is professional, knowledgeable, responsible, and patient, which makes the process from idea to production go smoothly. This is one of the reasons we have been doing business with NOBLE for so many years.
Lead Engineer ---- Amit Khan
NOBLE has been our tooling partner for over 3 years. Since then, We have had good cooperation in molded parts in medical devices. We are satisfied with their top-notch parts and smooth communication. We highly recommend RapidDirect to anyone looking to insert molded parts.
Technical engineer ---- Leo Ingram
NOBLE is our stable supplier in insert mold manufacturing. We are impressed with their professionalism, swift response, patient staff, and reasonable prices. Their mold helps us develop high-quality new products and is popular with our customers. Thanks for their services.
President --- Frank Jeffrey
In our first cooperation, we found it NOBLE to make insert molded parts for our automative vehicles. They handed products ahead of lead time. And the products are also in good condition. And we cooperated with them several times. We enjoyed the cooperation because they performed for the first time. I am so relaxed and pleased. We look forward to doing projects with them in the future.
Applications of Insert Molding
Consumer Products
Insert molding is a good way for consumer products to design and develop new products for its functional and aesthetic benefits.
Medical Devices
Biocompatible plastics are widely used in insert molding to produce medical devices.
AerospaceandAutomotive
Insert molding parts’s durability is suitable for handheld devices, like truck shifter Levers, dials, and knobs, etc.
Hardware tools
Overmolding Improved the grip of hardware tools, making them safer and more ergonomic. Excellent examples are screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, blades, and more.
Insert Molding FAQs
- Q
What materials are used in insert molding?
AIn general, most moldable thermoplastic resins are compatible with the insert molding process. Usually, the insert is made of metal, usually brass, aluminum, or stainless steel.
- Q
How does insert molding work?
AInsert molding is a manufacturing process that involves molding a plastic or metal insert into a plastic part during the molding process. Here is a summary of how insert molding works:
1.A metal or plastic insert is placed into the mold cavity before the plastic material is injected. The insert is positioned in a specific location and held in place by the mold.
2.The mold is closed and the plastic material is injected into the cavity. The plastic material flows around the insert and fills the mold cavity, bonding with the insert and forming a composite part.
3.Once the plastic has cooled and solidified, the mold is opened and the finished part is removed.
- Q
How do you design an insert molding?
ADesigning an insert molding involves several considerations to ensure that the final product meets the desired performance and aesthetic requirements. Here are some key steps to designing an insert molding:
Define the part requirements:Identify the functional, aesthetic, and performance requirements of the part, including the material properties, dimensional tolerances, surface finish, and assembly requirements.
Choose the insert material:Select the appropriate insert material based on the part requirements, such as the strength, stiffness, conductivity, and compatibility with the molding process and the plastic material.
Determine the insert geometry:Define the shape, size, and location of the insert in relation to the plastic part, taking into account the mold design, the injection molding process, and the assembly requirements.
Design the mold:Create a mold design that incorporates the insert and allows for proper plastic flow and bonding with the insert. The mold design should consider the molding process, the material properties, and the part geometry.
Optimize the molding process:Determine the appropriate molding parameters, such as the temperature, pressure, and cooling time, to ensure proper bonding between the insert and the plastic material. The molding process should be optimized to prevent defects, such as sink marks, voids, and warpage.
Test and validate the design:Perform testing and validation to ensure that the part meets the desired performance and aesthetic requirements, including dimensional accuracy, mechanical properties, and assembly fit.
Refine the design:Incorporate any necessary design changes based on the testing and validation results, and repeat the testing and validation process as needed.
- Q
What is the difference between insert molding and overmolding?
AInsert molding and overmolding are both plastic molding processes that involve molding one material over another to create a composite part. However, there are several differences between these two processes, including:
The placement of the insert material:In insert molding, the insert material is placed into the mold cavity before the plastic material is injected, whereas in overmolding, the plastic material is molded over the substrate material after it has been formed.
The purpose of the process:Insert molding is typically used to add strength, functionality, or aesthetics to the part, whereas overmolding is used to create a soft-touch grip, improve ergonomics, or add color or texture to the part.
The materials used:Insert molding typically involves metal or plastic inserts that are molded into a plastic part, whereas overmolding involves a variety of plastic materials that are molded over a substrate material.
The molding process:Insert molding can be performed using various molding processes, such as injection molding, compression molding, and transfer molding, whereas overmolding is typically performed using injection molding.
- Q
What is insert molding?
AInsert molding is the process of molding or forming plastic parts around other non-plastic parts or inserts. The biggest difference between insert molding and overmolding is that overmolding involves two injections of material to form the substrate, while insert molding involves only one injection of molten plastic.
Here is a summary of how to insert molding works:
1.A metal or plastic insert is placed into the mold cavity before the plastic material is injected. The insert is positioned in a specific location and held in place by the mold.
2.The mold is closed and the plastic material is injected into the cavity. The plastic material flows around the insert and fills the mold cavity, bonding with the insert and forming a composite part.
3.Once the plastic has cooled and solidified, the mold is opened and the finished part is removed.
