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Thread: Injection Molded Plastic Bushing/Shaft Recommendations

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Posts
    2

    Injection Molded Plastic Bushing/Shaft Recommendations

    First off I want to make it clear I'm not an injection molding expert. Rather I'm an inventor that is using injection molding for the first time. I'm working with a small scale injection molder in Michigan so I could get custom support. So far he's been doing a great job and the molds turned out great. The problem is now we're getting into an area beyond his expertise and I'm wonder if others in the injection molding community could help out.

    The problem is my invention rotates at 800 RPMs and some of the injection molded parts are melting. Below is an image of the design (it's an electric spinning wheel for converting wool to yarn). The central part spins and where it is sitting on that bracket is where it melts. I've been working with adjusting the drive band tension and I can get it working at slightly slower RPMs, but I'm hopeful there is some material change we can do that works for this kind of use case. I have a 3d printed ABS version of the parts that don't melt, but they are also much rougher and I wonder if that has something to do with it?

    The things that I think matter are: melting point (higher is better), thermal conductivity (better heat dissipates the better), friction (less is better).

    We have tried:
    * HIPS w/ 50:1 lube ratio
    * HIPS w/ 25:1 lube ratio
    * Acetal w/ Teflon lube
    * PE w/ Teflon lube

    The PE seemed to work best, but only had those for the braces and they did still have melting issues. Basically we are trying to mold a bushing and shaft that doesn't melt. I'm wondering if people here have suggestions on what types of plastics would work best for this? Also if you have ideas on mold geometry to reduce melting that would help that would help too.

    Click image for larger version. 

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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    541

    Re: Injection Molded Plastic Bushing/Shaft Recommendations

    PEEK

    Keep on Molding!
    brent

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    Saint Paul, MN
    Posts
    181

    Re: Injection Molded Plastic Bushing/Shaft Recommendations

    Carbon (graphite) will help with thermal conductivity and friction. For high melt point you can't do much better than Brent's suggestion unless you get really exotic, like Torlon, in which case you are looking at machining not molding. The tribological grades (used for bearings & valve seats) of PEEK are Victrex 450FC30 (high strength) and 150FC30 (easy flow).

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Posts
    2

    Re: Injection Molded Plastic Bushing/Shaft Recommendations

    Thanks guys! I'll look into these plastics/additives.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Upstate of South Carolina
    Posts
    701

    Re: Injection Molded Plastic Bushing/Shaft Recommendations

    Your printed samples are of a molecular weight you won't get when molding parts. POM shouldn't need additives especially if you purchase a resin for that end use. I would make the shaft out of a dissimilar resin to stop transfer from shaft to the bushing. Your tolerances may be too tight, loose or the shaft so warped it's causing some of your issues.
    Rick.

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