What's the differences between 2K Molding and Insert Molding?

Aug 12, 2022

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What's the differences between 2K Molding and Insert Molding?

It is not so easy to understand the differences between 2K molding and insert molding. Double Injection Plastic Parts 4

So today let's figure it out easily.

2K molding: Two plastic materials are injected on the same injection molding machine, and this injection molding machine is a special machine which can inject two kinds of material,normally one is soft plastic and the other one is hard plastic.

This injection molding machine will have 2 nozzles which the normal injection machine has only 1 nozzle. In general, this molding process is also called double-material injection molding. Usually, it consists of two molds, one half of which is mounted on the fixed plate of the nozzle side, and the other half is mounted on the rotating plate of core side half. The core half molds are exactly the same, but the two sets of cav half molds are indeed different. When the plastic injection of the first color is completed, the molds will be opened in the parting line, and the core half mold will bring the first product and rotates 180 degrees to reach the position where the second color needs to be injected. In this cycle, there will be a mold for a primary product and a secondary product in each molding cycle.

Insert Molding: sometimes called Fake 2k molding, two kinds of plastic materials are injected on different injection molding machines,this could be used with normal injection machines with only one nozzle.It means the parts have to inject totally 2 times.They are not injected in the same machine as 2K molding.When the first shot is completed,the parts have to move to the other machine,you may need use hands or robot to take them one by one put into the second mold. The second injection molding with be injected with the first insert part(so we call the first shot as an insert). Generally, this molding process is usually completed by 2 sets of molds and 2 sets of injection machine, without the need for a special two-color injection molding machine.

The above are the basic principles of making two-color injection molds.

Also the insert mold's cost will be much less than a 2K injection molding.

If you have big quantity of part request,you could consider to make the parts with 2K injection moldings.

If you have less quantity of part request,we suggest you could make it with insert molding,it is also called overmolding.