What occurs at the end of the injection moulding process?

At the end of the injection moulding process, the mould is opened and the finished part is removed. This step is crucial as it signifies the completion of the cycle after the molten plastic has been injected into the mould, cooled, and solidified into its final shape. Once the material has cooled sufficiently to maintain its form, the mould, which is a two-part structure, is opened to release the now solid plastic part. This is a key aspect of the process as it enables the production of multiple identical parts efficiently.

The other options refer to different phases of the injection moulding process but do not occur at the end. For instance, melting the plastic happens at the beginning, when granules are heated and transformed into a molten state. The piston drawing back is part of the injection cycle where the material is drawn into the injection chamber, while feeding granules into the hopper is part of the initial loading of material needed for the injection process. Each of these actions is important for different stages of injection moulding, but removing the part from the mould is the definitive conclusion of the whole process.