What is the first step in the injection moulding process?

The first step in the injection moulding process involves feeding plastic granules into a hopper. This is essential because the hopper acts as a storage unit that holds the raw material before it is processed. The plastic granules are typically made of thermoplastic materials, which need to be heated and melted before they can be injected into a mould.

Once the granules are in the hopper, they are transported toward the injection unit, where they are heated, melted, and then forced into a mould under high pressure. This initial step sets up the entire process, allowing for the subsequent transformation and shaping of the plastic into the desired product. Without this crucial first step, the machinery would lack the necessary raw material needed to produce any moulded items.

The other steps, such as the movement of the piston, solidification of the plastic, and removal of the moulded part, occur after the granules have been successfully fed and melted. Each of these stages depends on the initial feeding of the plastic to initiate the entire injection moulding cycle.