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FEATURE MATERIALS IN DESIGN & PROTOTYPING
55THANNIVERSARY
Benchtop plastic injection moulding systems offer a practical and
cost-effective way to test designs, validate production processes and complete small to mid-level production runs, as APSX explains
WHY OEMs Simple parts
produced on an APSX injection
moulding machine I
ndustrial injection moulding equipment can cost from £26,000 to £45,000 for even a small- to-mid-sized model. But if you need a middle
ground between these and hand-pull moulding systems, a benchtop plastic injection moulding machine could be the ideal solution. Despite their smaller footprint, these can
deliver many of the production capabilities expected from full-scale injection moulding equipment. They can support repeatable moulding cycles, consistent part quality, automated operation, controlled injection and clamping functions, and the use of production- grade thermoplastic materials and moulds. Added to this, they can serve as a practical
training platform, helping operators develop a clearer understanding of resin selection, mould procurement, processing parameters, cycle optimisation, part quality evaluation, and basic troubleshooting. They are, in fact, an ideal solution for short-
run manufacturing, pilot production, product validation, and in-house part production.
APPLICATION EXAMPLES Brightz provides LED light kits and accessories, as well as lighting products for games, outdoor use, wearables, camping, canopies, etc. Its chief operating officer, Brian Finch, realised a benchtop injection moulding machine was the ideal entry point for bringing some plastic production in-house. The initial application involved moulding
plastic clips that could be used to mount LED lights onto bicycle handlebars. The
ARE EMBRACING BENCHTOP
INJECTION MOULDING
goal was to learn the injection moulding process directly, test production assumptions and understand what would be required before making a larger investment. “We didn’t have a lot of expertise in-house, but
we wanted to do it ourselves,” says Finch, who purchased the APSX-PIM, an automatic, heavy- duty, desktop plastic injection moulding machine for continuous or single-cycle production. “The machine met our requirements for being easy to set up and use by someone with technical experience, even without prior injection moulding training. At the same time, it was good enough to support our production needs. For us, it proved to be a strong entry-level machine.” In another example, WrapOn Tools designs
manufactures and distributes products for the vehicle wrap industry. One of its core products is the patent pending KnifeTucker, a tool designed to help installers tuck vinyl around edges during the finishing stage of a vehicle wrap – and it decided to manufacture this in house. Inventor Scott Decker initially explored
3D printing, but the process was not strong enough for the application. Because the tool is used under pressure, the layered structure of a 3D-printed part created the risk of snapping or breaking during use. Decker experimented with a homemade
injection moulding set-up, but this was only able to produce two to three parts every ten minutes, which was not enough to keep up with demand. To meet requirements, the company therefore chose the APSX-PIM, which measures 1,092 × 254
× 381mm, does not require a water-coolant system, and runs on standard wall power. The PIM V3 is automatic, with multi-mode operation, precision sensors, electronic temperature control, injection speed control, delay control between cycles, a touchscreen, and an injection performance chart showing pressure and volume over time. The machine uses aluminium moulds produced
with standard CNC milling, supports rapid re-machining for dimensional refinements, and can accommodate 3D-printed trial inserts for early-stage validation. With a properly designed aluminium mould, users can inject and evaluate parts the same day, update the CAD model, re-machine the cavity, and return to moulding within hours. Mould installation is straightforward, allowing users to produce an initial part shortly after set-up. Of further benefit, it can process a wide range
of thermoplastics, including polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, polycarbonate, acetal, ABS, and blends that meet its melt-flow guidance. Thanks to the machine, the company is
able to produce a batch of four parts in around 90 seconds and roughly 200 parts in a day. The parts require very little post-production work, allowing them to be packed and dispatched within minutes of coming off the machine. The company now produces several
KnifeTucker mould variations, including the original model, the KnifeTucker Slim, for tucking into tight details and crevices, as well as versions designed for specific knives.
AN AFFORDABLE SOLUTION For startups, R&D teams, product design firms, educators, and small manufacturers, the combination of affordability, repeatability and accessibility offered by benchtop injection moulding machines means they are the ideal bridge between concept and production.
The APSX PIM V3 3 DESIGN SOLUTIONS 1971-2026 JULY/AUGUST 2026 0
APSX
www.apsx.com
www.designsolutionsmag.co.uk
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