When it comes to manufacturing plastic parts and components for the medical industry, plastic product designers need to account for a wide variety of factors while adhering to extremely strict tolerances and regulations. Every step of the injection molding process must be optimized to ensure top-tier consistency and quality for the end-use product.
Historically, this involved the manual calculation of parameters such as cooling times and the reliance on “rule of thumb” practices that didn’t always work, resulting in molds that were not viable and a much longer and more expensive manufacturing process overall.
Today, plastic product designers and manufacturers use simulation software to achieve the same thing in much less time and with much lower costs.
Simulation software is a particularly invaluable tool for plastic manufacturers that work with the medical industry as it can help ensure component quality with its predictive capabilities, leading to better-optimized process parameters, a reduced time to market, and higher rates of regulatory compliance.
Simulation Software Assists Plastic Product Designers in Predicting Mold Fill
In the injection molding process, the ability to predict how melted plastic material will fill a mold is critical. Simulation software models the entire injection molding process from fill to ejection and is able to predict how the material will behave and, consequently, how the product will turn out.
Simulation software can help plastic part designers identify issues early in the process when problems with the mold design are easier and cheaper to address, rather than later in the manufacturing process when disruptions can be more costly.
When manufacturing parts and components for medical devices, imperfections in the molding process such as air traps or flow restrictions can result in defects in the end-use product, leading to potential product inefficiency or even product recall and failure. Simulation software mitigates these risks and supports the production of plastic parts with the safety and health of the end user in mind.
Simulation Software Enables Plastic Product Designers to Optimize Process Parameters
By giving plastic product designers a clearer understanding of how the manufacturing process will progress for a particular part or component, simulation software plays a significant role in helping manufacturers optimize the parameters of the injection molding process.
Considerations such as temperature, pressure, injection site and speed, gate and cooling line placements, and wall thickness all contribute to a streamlined manufacturing experience.
Simulation software can also be used to perform analysis on the cause of product rejects due to nonconformance in order to help designers find solutions, preventing part defects and reducing material waste.
Simulation Software Can Reduce Time to Market
Not only does simulation software allow potential problems to be spotted early in the process, but it also enables the design and production of a viable prototype for early testing and verification, as well as potential bridge tooling for full production.
With all of these elements in place, simulation software is the key to increasing the efficiency of production, reducing cycle times, and decreasing the time to market for your end-use products.
A faster time to market is essential in the medical industry where demand is almost always high, and quick turnaround times contribute to the smooth day-to-day operations of healthcare facilities. Faster time to market also allows for a more timely and responsive approach to medical device manufacturing, ensuring that the plastic parts and components are always up-to-date and of the highest quality possible.
Ensure Regulatory Compliance with Simulation Software
In order to ensure regulatory compliance, medical plastic part designers must always keep part safety and reliability as top priorities.
With the ability to optimize mold design through simulation software feedback, medical plastic manufacturers can meet the exacting regulatory standards placed on medical devices. When paired with clean room manufacturing, plastics manufacturers for medical parts and components can also contribute to maximizing the number of viable parts and components produced in each production run.
Choose a Plastics Manufacturing Partner who Specializes in Medical Injection Molding
The production of plastic parts and components for medical use is a more exacting process than for many other industries. Only the highest quality parts that meet all regulatory standards can be allowed to enter the market. Your medical plastic manufacturing partner should have a deep understanding of the requirements of the medical industry.
At Omega Plastics, we specialize in low- to medium-volume injection molding for the medical industry. Our experience and clean room manufacturing capabilities enable us to take on your project with efficiency and expertise.
Contact our team today to learn more about how we can help you optimize the manufacturing process for high-quality and high-performing medical plastic parts.
