FAQ
Thinking about buying a MicroMolder machine and not quite sure if it fits your needs? Contact us at info@micro-molder.com and we will be happy to assist.
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MicroMolder Evo is avaiable for pre-order now. Once a pre-order is made expect up to a 6 week delivery date from the date of purchase.
MicroMolder+ is expected to open for pre-orders in 2025.
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All pricing is currently listed in our webstore.
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We ship units worldwide from the United States.
All import duties and fees will be the responsibility of the receiver/consumer and not calculated into the final sales price at checkout.
Check with your local government to ensure MicroMolder can be imported into your country (if outside the United States) and is within your governments rules and regulations on this type of machinery. Any returns due to failed delivery attempts or import prohibitions will be subject to a 30% restocking fee.
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Both the MicroMolder Evo and MicroMolder+ come with a 12 month limited warranty.
Additionally, the Teknic ClearPath digital servos and power supply unit on MicroMolder Evo and MicroMolder+ come with a 3 year warranty through Teknic.
More information on what is covered and our warranty terms can be found here: Warranty
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MicroMolder Evo and MicroMolder+ are both desktop injection molding machines, but they differ in design, capability, and ideal applications.
MicroMolder Evo
The Evo is a single-stage extruder-based system, specifically designed for use with 3D printed molds. It uses a rotating screw to both melt and inject plastic directly into the mold. The lower injection force and slower injection speed make it ideal for delicate mold features and low-cost tooling.
Best for: 3D printed molds, small shot sizes, and prototyping
Compatible mold types: 3D printed and aluminum
Material limitations: Works well with most standard thermoplastics like ABS and PP, but has limited compatibility with high-temperature, low-flow engineering plastics like PA (Nylon), PC, and certain filled materials
Shot size: Smaller capacity compared to MM+
MicroMolder+
The MM+ features a two-stage injection system, with a dedicated plasticizing screw and a separate injection piston. Plastic is melted and pressurized before being injected at high force into the mold, giving you more control over fill speed and pressure.
Best for: Aluminum molds, precision parts, and short-run production
Compatible mold types: Primarily aluminum
Material capabilities: Supports a wider range of plastics, including engineering-grade materials like PC, PA, and glass-filled resins
Shot size: Larger capacity and more consistent shot volume than Evo
Both machines are compact, desktop-friendly, and built with small-scale production in mind, but MM+ opens the door for more industrial-grade part runs and higher material flexibility.
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Unfortunately, there isn’t a straightforward answer to this, as the maximum part size depends on several factors, including:
Part Design Geometry: Complex shapes and intricate details may require smaller overall part sizes to ensure quality and consistency during production.
Plastic Type: Different materials behave differently under heat and pressure, which can influence the maximum feasible part size.
Tool/Mold Design: The design and construction of the mold, including considerations like cavity layout and cooling efficiency, also impact the size of the part that can be reliably produced.
To help you understand the capabilities of our machines, we recommend visiting the Specs page on our website, where you can find detailed information about injection shot size and platen dimensions. These specifications define the maximum working envelope of each machine, which is the space within which the mold operates.
However, it’s important to note that the maximum working envelope does not directly translate to the maximum part size. The actual maximum part size will typically be much smaller, influenced by the factors mentioned above.
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Most general and engineering plastics can be used in MicroMolder systems.
Each type of plastic melts and flows differently and those characteristics will have different results when shot into the same tool. Refer to our materials guide for more information on temperature and injection settings.
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It is NOT recommended to run MicroMolder at a production rate of 24 hours a day for 7 days a week.
MicroMolder was not designed to be a high volume manufacturing solution. Frankly, there are better, faster and more capable machines on the market that can perform that type of operation. MicroMolder was designed to operate for a few hours on end to produce low volume batch production runs and for part prototyping / testing / evaluation purposes.
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Cycle time of MicroMolder depends on type of plastic, volume of plastic injected, tooling design and tooling material.
For example, a small part the size of a clothing button will have a cycle time between 10-20 seconds. In contrast, a larger part such as a key FOB housing would have a cycle time between 40 seconds to 1 minute in an aluminum tool.
You can expect upward of 2-3 minutes for parts processed using 3D printed tooling due to the high thermal insulation characteristics of SLA printer resins.
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MicroMolder is an automatic injection molding machine. Single parts or 100's of parts can be produced.
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Injection molding is a complex process with many variables that can influence the outcome. Because of this, we generally avoid giving definitive answers to hypothetical questions about whether a part can be produced. However, we can provide some general guidelines that might help you assess the potential for your design:
Machine Compatibility: If the mold geometry fits within the machine’s platen frame dimensions and the total volume of the mold cavity (including runners and sprue) is at least 15% smaller than the machine's maximum shot size, your design is within the basic parameters for our equipment.
Design for Manufacturing (DFM): Adhering to DFM guidelines is crucial. This includes considerations like wall thickness, draft angles, and avoiding features that could complicate the molding process. These guidelines help ensure that your design can be efficiently and reliably produced.
However, meeting these guidelines does not guarantee success. Several other factors can significantly affect the outcome, including:
Mold Complexity: Intricate mold designs may require more advanced techniques and could lead to challenges in achieving consistent quality.
Material Selection: Different plastics behave differently during molding, which can impact the final product.
Gate Location and Venting: Proper placement of gates and vents is essential to avoid defects like air pockets or incomplete fills.
Part Ejection: The ease with which the part can be ejected from the mold without damage is another critical factor.
Each of these elements, among others, plays a significant role in determining whether a part can be successfully produced.
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Liquid silicone and plastic have different properties and processing requirements, which is why liquid silicone cannot be used with MicroMolder Evo or MicroMolder+
Material Behavior: Liquid silicone is a thermosetting polymer, meaning it requires heat to cure and solidify. In contrast, plastic used in injection molding is typically a thermoplastic, which melts when heated and solidifies when cooled.
Processing Temperatures: Liquid silicone requires specific curing temperatures and times, which differ from the melting and cooling cycles used for plastics. A plastic injection molding machine is not designed to handle these requirements.
Machine Design: Machines for liquid silicone injection molding are specially designed to handle the material's unique flow characteristics and curing process. These machines also include different types of screws and temperature control systems, which are not present in standard plastic injection molding machines.
Using liquid silicone in a plastic injection molding machines like the MicroMolder line of products would result in improper processing and will damage the equipment.