Part Details Review
| Thick and Thin |
Design your part for injection molding with a uniform wall thickness. In the real world, this design utopia is not always possible. Functional requirements may necessitate the use of design features with thick and thin sections. Also, there are times when thickness differential is intentionally introduced such as using flow leaders to achieve a balanced fill. The ultimate aim should still be one of using as uniform a wall thickness as possible not only for flow considerations but also to avoid molded-in stress, warpage etc. in the molded part. Innovative alternatives can be used in many situations to help achieve that objective.
If thick sections are not functionally required for their thickness, as in a light pipe application, core them to achieve wall thickness uniformity. Observe caution when coring; do not lose part functionality and structural integrity. The figure below shows coring alternatives for avoiding thick wall sections in several different part features.
Thick sections are difficult to eliminate completely in some features like ribs and bosses. However, alternative strategies that offer acceptable compromises can be used as suggested under the headings "Base Thickness" in Ribs and "Wall Thickness" and "Attachments" in Bosses.
