Plastic enclosures are primarily made using plastic injection moulding for production quantities.
The most common and efficient method for creating production quantity plastic enclosures is plastic injection moulding. This process involves injecting molten plastic material into a mould cavity, where it cools and solidifies into the desired shape.
This technique is highly versatile and is used to create both simple and complex enclosure designs. It's particularly effective for manufacturing enclosures from rigid plastics, such as:
- ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
- PC (Polycarbonate)
- PMMA (Polymethyl Methacrylate, or acrylic)
- PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate)
These materials are chosen for their durability, strength, and suitability for various applications.
Examples of products commonly housed in plastic enclosures made by injection moulding include:
- Controllers
- Speakers
- Sensors
- And many other electronic and mechanical products.
The process requires a precision-machined mould tool, which can be expensive upfront but allows for rapid and cost-effective mass production of identical parts once set up.
While other methods like vacuum forming or 3D printing exist, plastic injection moulding stands out as the main method for high-volume production of reliable, durable plastic enclosures that meet specific design and material requirements.
