05/07/2024
Single Cavity vs Multi-Cavity Injection Moulding
Injection moulding is one of the most popular methods to create plastic parts and uses a mould to shape the product. Whether you’re creating parts for a car or medical equipment, choosing the right mould is a key part of the injection moulding process.
In this blog post we explain the different types of moulds to help you determine which one is best suited for your applications.
Understanding Injection Mould Cavities
A mould is made up of cavities, which are hollow spaces that shape injected plastic into the final product. There are three main types of cavities: Single cavity, multi-cavity and family moulds.
Single cavity moulds
As the name suggests, a single cavity mould has one cavity that produces a single plastic part at a time. This is commonly used for smaller production runs or when very high precision is required. Since there is only one cavity, production time can be longer causing a higher cost per part. But the level of accuracy and precision is unmatched.
The medical industry often relies on single cavity moulds to meet the strict industry standards of quality control.
Multi-cavity moulds
Multi-cavity moulds contain multiple cavities that can produce several identical units at the same time. This significantly increases manufacturing efficiency and reduces production time, making it a great choice for mass production where high volumes of the same part are needed. While the initial cost is high to create the mould, there is great long-term saving from producing more parts at one time.
Many industries rely on multi-cavity moulds, including automotive and electronics ensuring their high demand is met with great precision.
Family moulds
Family moulds have multiple cavities for different parts, enabling you to produce various components at one time. They usually consist of two or more parts for a particular product or related products. This eliminates the need to run multiple mould cycles, reducing the cost and overall production time.
This is commonly used for products that require assembly post-moulding, e.g. consumer goods like toy sets.
The downside to this is if you have multiple parts for related items and one is discontinued, a section of the mould will no longer be used.
Examples of single cavity, multi cavity or family tool
| S.No. | Requirements | Recommendations |
| 1 | We are working on a product where projected yearly volumes are millions of parts. | Multi-cavity mould is recommended for high production volumes. It is also recommended to create a duplicate mould to reduce dependency and handle tool breakdown. |
| 2 | We expect production volumes to be high, but projections are not available. | It would be best to start with a single cavity mould and develop a new multi-cavity or single cavity mould when the production volumes increase. |
| 3 | We require only a few hundred injection moulded parts. | A family mould would be the ideal option to manufacture multiple parts in one single mould. It will reduce overall tool manufacturing costs and lead time. |
Your Trusted Injection Moulding Partner
Choosing the right mould is crucial to optimise the manufacturing process. At Bowles & Walker, we are experts when it comes to moulds and injection moulding. We can help you decide which type of mould is right for your product and business needs. We are a one-stop shop for all your plastic injection moulding projects, from design to delivery.
Contact us on 01953885294 or email info@bowles-walker.com today to learn more about how we can support your injection moulding.
