Design for micro insert moulding : a review

Abstract

Nowadays micro technologies are constantly increasing in importance due to the rapid growth of their respective applications. Recent works have investigated the potential of multi material micro fabrication technologies. One of the most cost efficient polymer micro fabrication technologies is injection moulding. Such cost effectiveness arises due to the reusability of a micro mould cavity. A process variant of multi material micro injection moulding is insert moulding. This paper characterizes the process of micro injection moulding in general and contributes a review of the state-of-the-art research studies together with technologies relevant specifically to micro insert injection moulding. From the literature review a research gap has been identified, namely that designers and process engineers lack support in the form of guidelines to develop micro multi-material components by insert moulding. Research directions are recommended to address this gap. These include methods to generate and formalize design and manufacturing guidelines for micro insert moulding.